In the last two weeks, we have had two meetings with management. While there have been moments of productive work, such as the presentations on selective salary increases this week, overall we are disappointed with the pace of negotiations and the fact that it is taking a long time to get proposals back from management.
At our last session, management offered a package proposal that included a variety of topics, including union rights, contracting out, filling vacancies, overtime and others. Some parts of their package proposal represented improvements to our contract, others were a step backwards. (A “package proposal” means that a set of contract articles are presented together and must be accepted or rejected as a whole package—we can’t just agree to what we like without also taking the stuff that’s bad.)
Here’s what was in the package management offered:
- Sick time would be counted toward weekly overtime
- Minor improvements to the union rights language
- Reducing the required internal job posting period from 10 calendar days to 5
- Eliminating the requirement that the state conducts an analysis prior to contracting out union jobs
Additionally, both bargaining teams spent time this week hearing from union members who presented strong, compelling arguments for selective salary increases for their classifications. Nearly 100 members observed during 24 presentations. A huge “thank you” to everyone who participated in these.
PS. Download this virtual meeting background that helps your coworkers RSVP for the June 8th Rally and be sure to join the SEIU Local 503 State Employees Facebook Group!
State Worker Raises Under Attack
With less than 2 months remaining in Oregon’s 2023 legislative session, funding for state employee raises are under attack. Watch Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp’s floor speech urging lawmakers to make less money available for bargaining. We need to do everything we can to win the contracts we deserve.
Here’s what you can do right now:\
- Tell your lawmakers to fund agencies with enough money for the contracts we deserve.\
- Register for the June 8th rally at the Capitol to demand a budget with the salary pots our members need.
