OUS Bargaining Update 7/31/09

Management’s Demand for Unlimited MUTO Short Circuits OUS Bargaining

Bargaining resumed Wednesday and Thursday at the U of O with hopes that the recent DAS settlement would provide the framework for a settlement with OUS. It was not to be!

Management continues to insist that we grant them the ability to impose Mandatory Unpaid Time Off (MUTO), a concession we cannot accept. A creative proposal from your SEIU Team to break the logjam was met with outright rejection by management. We now move into the mediation phase of bargaining with the first day of the mediation to be August 7 at WOU and additional dates of August 20 and 21 at PSU. Your Team requested more dates and told management that we will make ourselves available seven days a week until we settle. They are checking mediator availability. We have also requested another contract extension and are awaiting management’s response.

DAS Settlement
Although most provisions of the DAS settlement DO NOT apply to OUS, we had hoped to use the concept of a tiered structure which affords some protection to our lower paid workers along with a fixed number of MUTO days based on the worker’s salary level. We may still use this structure but now any settlement will come after the start of mediation.

The provisions that DO apply are 1) There will be no Cost of living adjustments in this biennium, and 2) We have protected our FULLY PAID Health Insurance for two more years including an increased subsidy for part-time workers to guarantee no additional out of pocket premiums. Because of these two provisions in the DAS Agreement, all OUS members will receive a ballot for this ratification vote. However, we will only be voting on Health Insurance and COLAs. A second ratification ballot will go out to OUS members for the full OUS settlement, whenever that occurs.

U of O Membership March on President
Members of Local 085, U of O, hosted a noon rally and barbecue in support of the Bargaining Team. Members used cell phones to contact Chancellor Pernsteiner with the message to take unlimited MUTO off of the table and settle a contract that is fair and equitable. After the phone calls and speeches by several members, President Lois Yoshishige led a vociferous march to Johnson Hall and the office of President Lariviere. The Team thanks the U of O membership for their support. Photos of march and rally here.

Next Steps
∙ Please continue to contact Chancellor Pernsteiner with the message to take unlimited MUTO off of the table and settle a contract that is fair and equitable. He can be reached in Eugene at 541-346-5703 or Portland at 503-725-5703.

∙ A statewide day of action has been re-scheduled for August 7 to coincide with the start of mediation. DAS members will participate with OUS members in actions in support of our bargaining. Please contact your Local leaders, CAT member, or Organizer for details.

∙ OUS delegates and leaders will be invited to a Bargaining Conference on August 15 at the PDX Hilton where the DAS TA will be presented to Bargaining Delegates and leaders from across the state. Your Team is working hard to reach settlement in time for our TA to be presented at the Conference.

∙ It is important that we remain visible and audible: Purple Up, Call the Chancellor, Call your President, Call the Governor. The message is: Take unlimited MUTO off of the table and settle a contract that is fair and equitable.