Contract Negotiations Update

[Greg]

DOC Bargaining Update 8-23-08
Updated On: Aug 25, 2008 (08:43:00)

Teamsters Local 117

GENERAL NEGOTIATIONS:

At the very end of our last negotiation session August 19, 2008, the State negotiators presented their initial economic counterproposal to your negotiation team. The proposal they presented to your team was identical to initial proposals given to each of the other State Unions during this round of negotiations. The fact that the State negotiator from the Office of Financial Management (OFM) has decided to bargain in this fashion is unfortunate and demonstrates a lack of respect for the hard working women and men of the Department of Corrections (DOC) who, unlike most other State employees, put themselves in harm’s way each day they go to work to protect the citizens of Washington State. Your Negotiation Team remains focused on achieving the best contract possible for our members at DOC and will not allow the State’s inadequate initial economic proposal to distract us from our goal of ensuring the remaining language issue are successfully resolved. To that end, on August 19, 2008 we reached tentative agreement on the Sick Leave article, achieving key improvements our members were seeking. Our next negotiation session is scheduled for August 28, 2008.

All of the Articles that have been tentatively agreed to will only go into effect once our members have ratified a complete and comprehensive Labor Agreement.

Please make sure the Local Union office has both your current home address, home e-mail address, and both home and cell phone numbers on file as we will be distributing information to each current member as we near the conclusion of negotiations. Also, please make sure you have your current Local Union membership card as your membership number will be required as part of the voting procedures. To be eligible to vote, you must be a member in good standing which means you must be current in your dues and have paid your initiation fee (if hired on or after 7/1/05) in full. To update your information, request a membership card, or to determine if you are in “Good Standing” please contact our office at either (206) 441-4860 or toll free at (888) 872-3489.

COURT ACTION OVER OCTOBER 1ST DEADLINE:

On August 20, 2008 your Union, led by Senior Staff Attorney Tracey Thompson and General Counsel Spencer Thal appeared before Thurston County Superior Court Judge Wickham to get a final answer regarding the assertion that negotiations must be concluded by October 1 in order to be included in the upcoming budget process. Judge Wickham ordered that bargaining must be concluded by the October 1 deadline.

[thursco]

Thanks for posting all of this info Greg

[Greg]

One thing that is not going to help bargaining at all is the political aspect of the negotiations. Teamsters Local 117 has endorsed Governor Gregoire. Dino Rossi has been criticizing the Governor because she is endorsed by the Unions that she is negotiating with.

My fear is that the desire to see Governor Gregoire get reelected is going to be the overriding concern for the Teamsters Union--therefore they may not want to push too hard for larger pay increases because it would give Dino Rossi more ammunition against Gregoire.

That's not a good bargaining situation for Washington DOC employees.