This is the weekly Federation Hotline updated May 4.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT BARGAINING KICKS OFF
It’s always significant when the bargaining team for our largest group of members, the 30,000 or so in General Government, begins bargaining.
First, the facts:
The Federation’s General Government Bargaining Team met with management for the first time Thursday (May 3) to formally begin negotiations on the next, 2019-2021 contract. This is the one that would take effect July 1 of next year.
While the team met with the state agencies’ management team at the Thurston County Fairgrounds in Lacey, hundreds of members at dozens of worksites around the state held impromptu unity breaks and shared images on social media to show we’re #StrongerTogether. See some of the photos here.
This showed to management that come bargaining time, our “team” is really all 44,000 Federation members in every corner of the state. Because we set the standards for our pay, benefits and working conditions by coming together to negotiate for a strong contract.
Back at the General Government table, our team presented the bulk of its initial non-economic contract proposals. The rest will be presented at the appropriate time after more research and discussion.
The team put together the initial proposal after many prep sessions over several months to go over the hundreds of contract proposal ideas submitted by members.
The management team will now review our initial proposal and come back with questions and then a counterproposal. The General Government team next bargains May 23 and 24.
Compensation articles will come later after update state revenue forecast information comes in.
Health care will be bargained at a separate coalition table with other unions. Each Federation bargaining team will have a representative on that team.
What it means and why it’s important:
The General Government Bargaining Team set the goal of building on the improvements negotiated in the current contract.
- It’s about recruiting and retaining state employees doing mission-critical work.
- It’s about keeping the state a competitive employer – that means a contract that promotes a well-paid, well-treated stable workforce – a real “employer of choice.”
- It’s about Work/Life Balance. One thing you can do is take the Work/Life Balance Survey. It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s 21 questions to help your work-life balance. Telework, Alternative Schedules, and Flexible Work Hours. Online: https://gg.wfse.org/news/work-life-balance-survey. Help to identify where innovative scheduling and work options should be created and where they are happening to benefit our members.
- We all want the best working conditions, family work balance, and efficient workplaces. • This is one way to increase retention of our members doing critical services and recruit qualified staff.
- It’s about empowering state employees and changing lives. We negotiate not just for ourselves and our families but to meet the needs of the people across Washington we serve. We fight for justice in our communities and in our workplace. We stand for excellence in public service.
- It’s about taking part.
Get the latest bargaining updates. Text GG to: 237263
EWU team wrapping up second day of first negotiating session
Our Eastern Washington University Bargaining Team also began negotiations on their next contract Thursday. It’s a two-day session that wraps up today (May 4).
The EWU Bargaining Team on Thursday in Cheney presented its initial proposal. Both sides discussed the intent and scope of that initial proposal.
Management presented two initial proposals.
We’ll have a full report after today’s bargaining wraps up at EWU.
That’s it for now.