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State officials outline bargaining priorities and tight budget outlook ahead of 2027–29 talks
Summary
Office of Financial Management staff told the Joint Committee on Employee Relations that sustaining service delivery under a hiring freeze, managing a projected FY2028 structural deficit, and negotiating over non‑monetary demands (leave, AI limits, access to members) will shape 2027–29 bargaining.
Jenny Sheehan, Labor and Policy Strategy Officer with the Office of Financial Management, told the Joint Committee on Employee Relations on May 8 that the core challenge for the upcoming 2027–29 bargaining cycle is “not how we maintain or grow the workforce, but how do we sustain service delivery with a constrained hiring environment.” She outlined the executive‑branch workforce mix, noting most employees work hybrid schedules while site‑dependent staff operate in corrections, health facilities and field roles.
Sheehan said 77% of the state workforce are represented employees and that the state’s civil‑service classification system limits rapid adjustments in compensation and role…
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