"DAS Bargaining Is Under Way"
SEIU 503 Message” “Not on our backs!”
| Kermit Meling (ODOT), Gina Santacroce (DHS) and Vice President Sonya Reichwein (DMV) share their thoughts at Dec. 6 Bargaining Conference. |
The Department of Administrative Services bargaining team has held its first session with state negotiators, send a clear message that while we understand the gravity of the economic crisis SEIU 503 will not tolerate balancing the state’s budget on our backs.
When the economy is booming, SEIU negotiators said, state workers don’t see windfall gains. Likewise now, we won’t accept disproportionate sacrifices.
During these tough economic times, our services are in higher need than ever. We can’t afford to balance the budget on the backs of those of us who provide the services. The Governor’s budget calls for eight unpaid furlough days, equaling about a 1.5% pay cut for all state workers. Furloughs are bad for workers and bad for Oregonians who need our services.
We agreed to the following bargaining schedule:
January 12 & 13
January 26 & 27
February 9 & 10
February 23 & 24
March 9 & 10
Our Central Bargaining Team is:
Kermit Meling, ODOT
Bill Kinyoun, ODFW
Dan Ferguson, OYA
Dan Smith, OSH
Karen Miller, DHS
Rob Sisk, DAS
Trish Lutgen, Education
Theresa Arndt, Employment
Donna Glathar, SEIU
Leslie Frane, SEIU
Heather Conroy, SEIU
The Governor’s budget gives us a glimpse into the state’s negotiating position. It is not a done deal. The state can’t unilaterally impose a wage freeze or furlough days. Unlike unrepresented workers and managers, we have our union and the right to negotiate our wages and benefits. Because of our Union, we have the power to stand up for ourselves and the services we provide.
The course is as clear as the road is difficult. We must:
• Prepare for tough bargaining. We will need to be unified and ready for action at a very high level, in all of our worksites and our communities.
• Lobby aggressively to make sure that, even within limited resources, the legislature alters the recommended budget.
• Call on corporate Oregon to do its part, step up and contribute its fair share to our state. A $10 minimum corporate income tax is no longer viable.
• Persuade Congress to pass a federal economic stimulus package that sends money directly to the states, including an increase in the FMAP rates. We also need to make sure that stimulus money spent on “infrastructure” in the name of added jobs does not become a give-away to contractors or merely replacement funds for existing state commitments.
To sign up for a lobby day contact your steward or organizer.
Talks with teams representing Oregon University System workers as well as home care, adult foster care and family child care providers will begin soon after the first of the year.