STATE OF CONNECTICUT
NANCY WYMAN COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARK OJAKIAN DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

MEMORANDUM NO. 2009-11

April 24, 2009

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

I. AUTHORITY

The interest arbitration award between the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut Employees Union Independent concerning the Maintenance and Service (NP-2) bargaining unit for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011, which took effect on April 25, 2009 by operation CGS Section 5-278(b).

II. TRAINING (Article 10)

A. Tuition Reimbursement (Section 3a)
The State will allocate for tuition reimbursement each contract year the following:

Tuition reimbursement for credit courses at accredited institutions of higher education will be one hundred percent (100 %) of the cost of tuition, laboratory fees and community college service fees up to a maximum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the per credit rate for undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Connecticut at Storrs. Tuition reimbursement for non-credit courses at accredited institutions of higher education will be one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of tuition, laboratory fees and community college service fees up to a maximum of fifty percent (50%) of the per credit rate for undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Connecticut at Storrs.

 

B. Professional Development (Section 3b)
The State will allocate the following in each contract year for the purpose of providing relevant education and training to employees in conjunction with the Department of Education or comparable programs including continuing education requirements.

C. Conference Fund (Section 3c)
The Conference Fund will be $30,000 for each year of the contract. A maximum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars will be allotted for any one attendance and no employee will attend more than two conferences, workshops or seminars per contract year. The funds will be used for fees and/or travel expenses including meals and lodging. Funds that are not expended in one fiscal year will carry over into the next fiscal year. The conference fund will expire with the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. Requests that are submitted and approved within the final six months of the contract may be paid with any remaining available funds up to three months following expiration of the contract.

 

D. Unexpended Funds
Funds that are unexpended in one fiscal year will carry over into the next fiscal year and the balance of these funds will be available in addition to the new balances. The union will, upon request, be able to interchange funds between the Professional Development, Tuition Reimbursement, and Conference Funds.

III. NIGHT SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL (Article 18 Section 18c)

Temporary Night Shift Differential (Department of Transportation only)
A shift premium of $4.00 per hour will be paid in lieu of any other shift or weekend differential to employees who are assigned to such temporary shifts for all such hours worked or on paid leave. This premium will also be paid for any eligible overtime hours worked on such established shifts, but the premium itself will not be paid at the one and one-half rate.

IV. SAFETY (Article19 Section 7b)

Premium pay for hazardous or unpleasant duty as specified by current regulations or Q-Items will continue. Premium pay for newly designated hazardous or unpleasant duty may be established at either one and one-half (1-1/2) or one and one-quarter (1-1/4) times the applicable hourly rate, depending on the degree of such hazard or unpleasantness, in relation to current regulation or Q-Item. Premium pay will be paid for all hours of such work or exposure.

V. COMPENSATION (Article 20)

A. General Wage Increases (Section 1)
General wage increases will be effective as follows:

B. Annual Increments (Section 2)
Employees will continue to be eligible for and receive annual increments in July or January during the term of this contract in accordance with existing practice.

 

C. Lump Sum Payment for Maximum Step Employees (Section 2)
Effective July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011 employees at their top step will receive a lump sum payment equal to two and one half percent (2.5%) of their base annual salary.

 

D. Safety Shoe Allowance (Section 3)
On or about July 15 of each contract year an employee required to wear safety shoes will receive the specified payment for the purchase of such shoes. The safety shoe allowance is extended to eligible employees who are hired after July 15 but before February 1 of any contract year. Payment will be made on or about February 15.

 

Effective July 1, 2008 the safety shoe allowance is $125. Effective July 1, 2009 the safety shoe allowance will increase to $135.

 

VI. LONGEVITY (Article 22)

Employees will continue to be eligible for longevity payments in accordance with existing practice.

VII. SHIFT AND SALARY DIFFERENTIALS (Article 23)

A. Shift Differential
Effective July 1, 2008, the shift differential is eighty-five (.85) cents per hour. Effective July 1, 2009, the shift differential will increase to ninety ($.90) cents per hour.

 

B. Weekend Differential
The weekend differential will remain at sixty ($.60) cents per hour.

 

C. Differential for Supervising or Training Inmates
Employees, other than those employed by the Department of Transportation, who are required to supervise or train inmates and such is not a function within their job specification, will be paid a differential of seventy ($.70) cents per hour for each hour actually worked in such assignment.

 

D. Freezer Storage
The extra compensation for employees who work in freezer storage areas will be seventy ($.70) cents per hour.

 

E. Fire and Crash Standby
The extra compensation paid to DOT employees with fire and crash standby assignments at airports will be eighty ($.80) cents per hour.

 

VIII. SAFETY SHOES PERMANENT PART-TIME EMPLOYEES (Article 27 Section 2g)

Permanent part-time less than twenty (20) hours per week employees required to wear safety shoes will receive the amount specified in Article 20 for the purchase of such shoes at the time of hire and bi-annually thereafter on or about July 15.

IX. MEALS (Article 41)

During the life of this agreement, the rates charged to employees for meals will be as follows:

Employees whose jobs require they remain on duty on a regular basis during the lunch break will be entitled to an employer-provided meal at no cost, provided the employer has dining facilities. This applies to first, second, and third shift employees. These provisions do not apply to employees who may be eligible for meals under Article 42.

 

X. MEAL POLICY (Article 42 Section 2)

Meals will be provided at no cost at all agencies possessing dining facilities.

 

For agencies without dining facilities, the maximum meal allowances will be:

XI. HOUSING (Article 43)

Effective upon legislative approval of this agreement, the amount charged to employees occupying State-owned housing located on the grounds of State institutions will be seventy (70%) percent of the appraised fair market rental value. For other State-owned housing, the rental charge will be one hundred (100%) percent of the appraised fair market value.

 

XII. SNOW AND ICE PREMIUM PAY (Article 53)

Employees designated as having a snow and ice control or removal assignment will be paid a premium of $1.60 for each hour actually worked on snow and ice control or removal, other than during the regular shift schedule.

Effective July 1, 2010 the snow and ice premium will be increased to $1.70 per hour. Premium pay will be authorized under the above conditions from November 1 through April 30 of each year for the life of the contract. This premium pay shall not be used in computing overtime payment.

 

XIII. ON-CALL/STANDBY ASSIGNMENTS (Article 55 Section 6d)

Employees of the University of Connecticut, University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Developmental Services who are designated by job classification and function as on-call/standby status will compensated at the rate of $1.00 per hour for each hour so assigned. Notwithstanding the duration of any on-call/standby assignment, such compensation shall not exceed $100.00 per work week.

XIV. EMPLOYEE EXPENSES (Article 57)

A. Mileage Reimbursement (Section 1)
Mileage reimbursement is at the U.S. General Services Administration rate (currently 55 cents per mile). The rate will be adjusted within thirty (30) days of readjustment by the General Services Administration.

 

B. Business Travel Reimbursement Rates (Section 2)
Reimbursement rates for business travel are the following:

*Applicable to out-of-state travel or when authorized in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations

XV. LICENSE FEES (Article 60 Section 6)

The employer will reimburse employees in all classifications, including but not limited to barbers, hairdressers, ferry captains and electronic technicians for the cost of a license required by the employer as a condition of employment or otherwise necessary for execution of assigned duties, except that the cost of a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) shall not be reimbursed. The employer shall not be responsible for penalties for late filing. Requests for reimbursement will be processed upon presentation of a validated license and proof of payment.

XVI. RETROACTIVE PAYMENTS

A. Retroactive Annual Increments and Retroactive Lump Sum Payments for Maximum Step Employees
Payments will be separately identified and subject to mandatory deductions only; i.e., federal withholding tax and state income tax annualized, social security tax, retirement contributions, and garnishments (if applicable).

 

An interest penalty of 5% is payable if all the retroactive amounts due the employee under the arbitration award are not paid in the check dated May 8, 2009.

B. Retroactive Safety Shoe Allowance
Agencies may have already paid this safety shoe allowance to employees. If this was not paid, please process payment as follows:

XVII. INTEREST PENALTY

Pursuant to Section 5-276b of the Connecticut General Statutes, an interest penalty of 5% per annum is to be paid for late implementation of the provisions of the NP-2 interest arbitration award issued March 14, 2009. Whenever payments called for in an interest arbitration award are not paid within sixty days of the date the award was issued, the agency will have an obligation to pay interest on late payments.

 

XVIII. CALCULATION OF INTEREST PENALTY

An interest penalty of 5% is payable for the period March 14, 2009 until the date the eligible employee receives all retroactive amounts due him/her under the arbitration award.

 

In the examples below, the check date of *May 22, 2009 is being used. The agency must calculate to the actual check date of the payment.

 

69 days/360 days multiplied by 5% multiplied by the retroactive payment:

Example: If the amount owed is $300:

69 days/360 days x .05 x $300 = $2.87

 

Multiply the retroactive amount paid by the number of days between March 14, 2009 and the date of the payment,*May 22, 2009 (which is 69 days) divided by 360; then the product multiplied by 5%.

XIX. SCHEDULED PAYMENT DATES

A. General Wage Increase

B. Annual Increments
Annual Increments will be entered centrally at the proper time as follows:

C. Lump Sum Payments for Maximum Step Employees
The agency must process these lump sum payments manually and follow the effective dates and pay periods of annual increments.

 

D. Safety Shoe Allowance

E. Safety Shoe Allowance for Employees Hired After July 15

XX. PAYROLL PROCEDURES

A. Split Pay Period for General Wage Increase
General wage increase effective July 1, 2009. The effective pay period is June 19, 2009 through July 2, 2009. Wages earned for the period June 19, 2009 through June 30, 2009 should be paid at the old rate. The wages earned for the period July 1, 2009 through July 2, 2009 should be paid at the new rate.

 

General wage increase effective July 1, 2010. The effective pay period is June 18, 2010 through July 1, 2010. Wages earned for the period June 18, 2010 through June 30, 2010 should be paid at the old rate. The wages earned for the period July 1, 2010 should be paid at the new rate.

 

B. Payroll Procedures For Interest Arbitration Award
Interest paid on a wage award is not considered wages (IRS Revenue Ruling 72-268).
Therefore, the subject interest penalty would not be subject to withholding for income taxes, employment taxes, and retirement contributions.

1. On the Timesheet Page: Amount; Earnings Code XMISP.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Amount; Earnings Code INT.

C. Implementation of General Wage Increase
New pay plans will be implemented centrally with the new hourly rate and biweekly salary effective with the pay period, at the proper time.

 

Retroactive Payments:

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Amount or Hours; Time Reporting Code XRTRA or XRTRH.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Amount or Hours; Earnings Code RTR.

 

D. Payment of Lump Sum(s)

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Amount or Hours; Time Reporting Code XMISP.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Amount; Earnings Code MPS.

 

These lump sum payments are subject to mandatory deductions; i.e., federal withholding and state income tax annualized, social security tax, retirement contributions, and garnishments (if applicable).

 

E. Payment of Retroactive Lump Sum

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Amount or Hours; Time Reporting Code XRTRA.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Amount; Earnings Code RTR.

 

F. Shoe Allowance

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Amount or Hours; Time Reporting Code XSHUA.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Amount; Earnings Code SHU.

 

G. Shift Differential

 

1. On the Timesheet Page; Hours, Shift 1; Amount 50180 or Hours Shift 2 (Time and a half); Account 50180 or Amount; Shift 3; Account 50180.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Hours or Amount; Earnings Code SD1 (Shift 1); Account 50180 or Hours or Amount; Earnings Code SD2 (Shift 2); Account 50180 or Amount; Earnings Code SD3 (Shift 3); Account 50180.

 

H. Temporary Night Shift Differential

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Units: Time Reporting Code XSHNF.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Units: Earnings Code F41

 

I. Differential for Supervising Inmates

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Units; Time Reporting Code XINM1.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Units; Earnings Code DI1.

J. Freezer Storage

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Units; Time Reporting Code XFRZ1.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Units; Earnings Code DF1.

 

K. Fire and Crash Standby

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Units; Time Reporting Code XOCAH.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Units; Earnings Code OCF.

 

L. Snow and Ice Premium Pay

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Units; Time Reporting Code XHDKH.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Units; Earnings Code SIU.

 

M. On-Call/Standby

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Units; Time Reporting Code XOCBH.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Units; Earnings Code OC1.

N. License Fees

 

1. On the Timesheet Page: Units; Time Reporting Code XNRRA.

 

2. On the Additional Pay Page: Amount; Earnings Code NRR.

XXI. TUITION REIMBURSEMENT - Union Funds

All pre-approved tuition reimbursement requests should be forwarded to the Comptroller's Fiscal Policy Division - Tuition Unit for processing. All tuition reimbursements must be submitted on an approved Application for Tuition Reimbursement, CO-101 Form. Please see Memorandum No. 2006-41 dated December 7, 2006 for additional procedures.

 

Please note: Reimbursements cannot be made until the release of funding by the Office of Policy and Management.

XXII. GENERAL

Questions may be directed as follows:

 

Contract Issues: Agency Personnel Officers;

 

Payroll Procedures: Office of the State Comptroller, Payroll Services Division,
(860) 702-3463;

 

Tuition Reimbursement: Office of the State Comptroller, Fiscal Policy Division,
(860) 702-3344;

 

Memorandum Interpretation: Office of the State Comptroller, Fiscal Policy Division, (860) 702-3440.

NANCY WYMAN
STATE COMPTROLLER

NW:ED

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