Elected SEIU Local 503 bargaining delegates voted unanimously Saturday (August 15) to recommend that union members approve a tentative agreement covering more than 18,000 state employees and providing health insurance coverage to more than 4,000 classified university workers. Now the agreement goes to all members it covers for a ratification vote. Ballots will be mailed to represented workers this week and are due back early next month.

Delegates said that given the state's fiscal climate the settlement is tough but fair and protects most services they provide to Oregonians. They also pledged support for classified workers on the seven Oregon university campuses who bargain separately with Chancellor George Pernsteiner and the Board of Higher Education on most issues and confront draconian cuts that Pernsteiner and the board are not asking of managers or other employees. These include a demand that Pernsteiner be allowed to furlough classified workers without pay at will.

In late July, after eight months of negotiations, SEIU and state negotiators reached a tentative agreement covering employees in most state agencies on a new two-year contract through June 30, 2011. If ratified the contract would:

• protect fully paid family medical coverage;

• initiate a one-year step freeze through 8/31/10 but provide longevity increments to all employees on their salary anniversary dates between 9/1/10 and the end of the contract term;

• provide no cost of living adjustments in either year of the contract.

• assign workers 10, 12, or 14 furlough days over the next two years depending on their salary level.

• provide a number of non-economic changes that will benefit union members, including a classification study covering support staff and health care position and an extra year of recall rights for laid-off workers.?