Introduction and General Announcements
- Mention of the sub-local website where meeting minutes and summaries will be posted.
International Union Convention Recap (Angela Ward)
- The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) convention was held in Philadelphia in May.
- ODFW representatives included Angela Ward, Steven Emerson, and Micki Varney.
- Activities included voting on resolutions, electing new delegates, and keynote speeches from Kamala Harris and Justin Trudeau.
- Key resolutions addressed worker support in Puerto Rico, a call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and strengthening future technology and emerging unions like the Starbucks Union.
- The large Oregon delegation highlighted the state's strong presence within the international community.
Labor Management Committee (LMC) Meeting Recap
- New ODFW director Debbie prioritized safety, proposing joint safety training with other natural resource agencies.
- Review of the employee engagement survey, with plans to include more specific questions for actionable insights.
- Discussion on the CDL (Commercial Driver's License) program, focusing on training and certification requirements. If you or someone you know has a CDL and has not used it in 24 months, please reach out.
- Angela Ward worked on a new two-page contract highlights document for managers, emphasizing key contract details like vacation request response times.
- Housing issues were discussed, including challenges with maintaining and storing trailers for seasonal workers.
- Positive updates on workday payroll issues, noting a decrease in payment errors. Ken from the Director’s Office was acknowledged for his transparency and efforts to address these issues.
- Plans for a September offsite meeting at an archery range to foster better relationships between labor and management through team-building activities.
Survey and Budget Concerns (Chris Rodriguez)
- The recent employee survey was not a joint effort and lacked actionable results, leading to difficulties in addressing specific concerns.
- Discrepancies in budget reports were highlighted, with previous director Melcher stating financial stability, followed by a sudden financial crisis and potential budget cuts after his departure.
- Emphasis on the importance of maintaining communication and support for employees potentially affected by budget cuts. The 10% cut list was described as a strategic exercise to influence legislative decisions, with assurances that the proposed cuts are likely to change.
- Efforts will be made to ensure affected employees have alternative positions within the agency.
Recognition and Employee Housing
- Call for nominations to recognize exemplary managers at the upcoming LMC meeting. The goal is to highlight managers who support their teams and exemplify good management practices. If you would like to nominate your manager please reach out.
- Discussion of an employee housing relocation issue, where a manager proposed moving an employee to a different hatchery within the same county against their preference. Concerns were raised about the lack of precedent for such forced relocations, and the need to address the issue appropriately. If you or someone you know has been forced to move, please reach out to us.
Ideas for things to ask the Ways and Means Committee for funding for
- Hiring bonuses for seasonals to offset relocation costs for short-term rentals.
- A fund for training and career development opportunities
- Please reach out if you have other ideas.
Action Items and Future Plans
- Utilize the union website for posting meeting minutes and updates.
- Advocate for more detailed and actionable employee engagement surveys to address specific issues.
- Monitor and support employees affected by potential budget cuts, ensuring alternative positions are available.
- Recognize exemplary manager at the September LMC meeting to promote positive management practices.
- Address ongoing employee housing relocation concerns to ensure fair and just treatment of all employees.
- We would like to see more internal-only job postings.
