Psychiatric Technicians Approve Contract Agreement

The union representing psychiatric technicians employed by the state has accepted a contract agreement including increased health insurance contributions and wages, the Department of Personnel Administration announced on Monday, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Under the proposed two-year agreement, state contributions to employee health benefits would increase to a dollar amount equal to 80% of premiums. New employees would have to wait two years before their dependents would be eligible for full coverage.

The agreement also would increase wages by 2.5%, retroactive to July 1. A second wage increase would take effect July 1, 2007. Some psychiatric technicians at the high end of the pay scale would receive an additional 5% pay increase in July 2007.

The agreement would apply to about 7,100 psychiatric technicians working in state mental hospitals, prisons and developmental disability centers (Furillo, Sacramento Bee, 8/22).