Local 733 Meeting April 30th in Bend

Mark your calenders Local 733's next statewide meeting will be on April 30th in Bend. Agenda topics will include bargaining updates. Registration forms will be sent out soon. Due to our budget, normal SEIU lodging and travel reimbursement policy will be practiced (on the back of registration form). If you are a represented employee of Parks and Recreation or a returning seasonal employee please come! This is your chance for us to hear your voice! Work site issues? Contract interpretation? Meetings are setup to encourage open discussion and participation.

Bargaining Update!

Earlier last month we made our proposal to management. The main points of our proposal were decided by members at our bargaining conference in January (listed below).

• 4 year contract instead of 2
• ending furloughs
• ending step freezes
• maintaining the 6% pickup for PERRS & fully paid health care premiums
• Maintaining cost-of-living increases based upon a fair percentage increase over 4 years

On Monday the 28th of February, state representatives gave us they're proposal. Main points are outlined below.

• NO step increases
• Elimination of the 6% pickup for PERRS (employees would pick of the cost instead)
• 7 furlough days per/year or a 3% salary reduction at managements discretion
• NO cost of living increases
• A cap on health care costs per year (when costs go beyond the cap, the employee has to pay the difference in the form of a premium) Costs will go up, we could be paying a premium by next year

Its early in the game and keep in mind the state's initial proposal is very political. The figures mirror what AFSCME received from the state last week. We have a long road ahead of us!

Coalition (agency specific proposals)

Your Coalition bargaining team officially met with management on the 7th of February. We gave them our proposals (including the boot reimbursement language) and we received they're proposals. We had our second session on the 28th and we will have another on on the 7th (next Monday). Its still early in the game as well. OPRD related issues we currently covering are listed by Article number below.

• 10.3: number of stewards at Salem's HQ office, eliminating the 35 mile restriction for Stewards, chief steward language, more authorization to email for investigations
• 58.3: adopts a LOA developed by ODOT regarding holiday pay...remember July 4th?
• 66.3: Returning Seasonals allowed to carry over as much as 40 hrs VA season to season
• 32.3 (B)(3): to keep non bargaining unit employees from being called out for emergency work when represented employees who can do the work can be found within the district (applies to most agencies including ours).

....more to come!

The Governor's Proposals

This Monday the 28th, the Governor will officially announce his bargaining proposals to SEIU. Stay tuned for updates.

We Support Wisconsin!!!

On Monday the 21st thousands of people came to the Capitol in support of teachers and our brothers and sister in Wisconsin. Local 733 Parks and Recreation leadership was not only there, but Peggy our Local President received some media coverage as well. Follow the Link below to watch Peggy's interview with KGW.
http://www.kgw.com/thesquare/wisconsins_shadow_looms_over_salem-116638058.html

Why should we be so concerned with Wisconsin? If they lose they're Bargaining Rights, then we could be next! The right to Bargain is our voice. Without this right, we would be forced to take on whatever the state proposed without any discussion with management. I encourage you to look at you contract. Without bargaining rights, every page in that contract would be worthless, even on how you use vacation days!

DAS Bargaining Survey Results

Charts and Graphs summarize the survey results received by all members including Parks.

I would like to thank all members who participated in this years Bargaining survey. Of the thousands of surveys recieved by represented employees from all state agencies over 230 of them were from Parks employees. On Saturday January 15th bargaining delegates from ODOT Coalition met in Salem to discuss the survey results and began developing proposals based upon the comments and suggestions that members have given us through the survey.

ODOT Coalition Bargaining begins February 7th.

DECEMBER 17th Bargaining Surveys Due

Get those surveys done before December 17th! These surveys will be our primary tool for developing a strategy for our upcoming contract bargaining. You have a different approach besides furloughs? Get it in there! You want better boot language? Get it in there. You want clear and simple language for Holiday Pay? Get it in there! In January, we will determine what your priorities are based upon a the consensus of these surveys.

Kitzhaber's Pink Slip for Agency heads!

Part of Kitzhaber's plan, when he takes office in January, is to shake up various state agencies by asking the resignations of its directors. He wants directors that will share his vision in transforming state government by improving its efficiency, productivity, and accountability. On the list of his priorities is Parks and Recreation! Other departments from his list include Transportation, Fish and Wildlife, Forestry, and State Police.

The material in this posting was taken from a recent article in Willamette Week. To view the original article and the rest of the list click the link below.
http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2010/12/06/kitzhaber-recruits-saxtons-issues-pink-slip-list/