ODOT Coalition Bargaining Report 5/4/09

Bargaining Report #6

Our Union bargaining team, along with over 28 members, met with Management Monday night.  Management put three package proposals across the table.  Their packages 4, 5 and 6 were virtually the same as their prior packages 1, 2 and 3 with one small exception.  In explaining their “new” proposals they explained to our team how bargaining works.  Our delegates were unimpressed with management’s disrespectful proposals and lecture on bargaining.

The only change to any of their packages was backing off moving the Forestry Pac Test into the contract and “moved” by keeping it in an LOA.  Otherwise all the effort our bargaining team made in crafting new language was ignored by management.

Our bargaining team went piece by piece through the proposals and crafted a strategy for May 18th bargaining.  Before we finished the night the Union created a new package that we shared with management to clearly demonstrate their lack of effort in solving problems and moving forward with bargaining.  

The Union package consisted of five articles, all things we had prior agreement with management on - removing the union proposal on mileage reimbursement, keeping current language on overtime, accepting managements proposal on geographic areas for Parks, the union proposal that increases the tool reimbursement for Forestry mechanics, and keeping essentially current language on the Pac Test for Forestry.  

After a short caucus to discuss, management informed our bargaining team they couldn’t yet accept this package of proposals.  It confirmed to many of us in the room that their commitment to bargaining was not nearly as firm as their rhetoric.  We agreed to meet again on May 18th and the Union will be moving forward with many of the same proposals we previously put across the table with some tweaks.

If these issues are important to you we need you to attend bargaining and let management know why there is a problem.  They have repeatedly told our delegates they do not see any issue where we have demonstrated problems.  If enough of us show up it makes it easier to demonstrate there is in fact a problem and that we do not intend to leave until we find solutions.

Please join us at bargaining May 18th at the ODOT HR building at 5:30 for dinner.  We will walk through our package proposals at 6 in caucus and begin bargaining at 6:30.  We cannot win on these proposals without your support.  If you have any questions you can email barnardt@opeuseiu.org.    

The ODOT HR building address is 2775 19th St SE, Salem, Oregon.