Contract_Negotiations

2/16/10

The state has put across a package proposal that includes all the contract articles in one proposal including monetary terms.

For pay raises, the state is offering a lump sum payment of $781 (the equivalent to a 1.5% aggregated payraise) to all members for the current year, payable July 1, 2010; conversion to a new step chart effective July 1, 2010, which they claim to be an average increase of 2.34%, and 1% July 2011.

What they are proposing for language changes include:

Watering down our contracting language – this would make it easier to privatize our jobs

Take away our ability to challenge classification decisions – our contract currently allows us to challenge these decisions

Extend probationary periods to 1 year

Remove foremen from the call back provisions

Take away travel pay and have the administrative manual cover travel policies

Establishes furloughs (unpaid layoff) that circumvents our seniority system

Change the one year leave of absence from mandatory to permissive but extend it to 2 years

No longer require foremen positions to be filled at the duty station by allowing the state to hire foremen positions by any means they want

Increase the number of people signing promotional listings from 3 to 5

Allowing transfers to bring 100% of their duty station seniority into the new duty station which would equate to statewide seniority

Many of the proposals strike at the heart of protecting your job, giving you the chance to promote, and segregating our own members from the protections the contract provides. The state’s budget is developed on a couple of factors which include what is available in reserves, average oil prices, and average oil production. The state has well over $8 billion dollars in accessible reserves. The year to date average price of oil is about $10 a barrel higher than last March’s forecast and average production is slightly higher than projected. These last two factors combined create a $2.2 billion dollar surplus in this year’s budget alone. It wasn’t that long ago when all state employees were told that they would have to forgo any pay raises because of real budget crisis. You shouldered the burden for low oil prices. Now that the price of oil is higher than expected, this Governor is saying that you shouldn’t be recognized for your sacrifices during the hard times.

Your negotiating team disagrees and is returning to the table on February 16 & 17 to counter these proposals. We will continue giving regular updates as more information is available.

State & Local 71 Contract Negotiation Updates Any changes you would like to see in the upcoming contract? Click Here

	2/19/10 Negotiation Update The Union and State went to the table on February 16 & 17 for further negotiations. During this meeting the Union presented a counter offer to the State’s last proposal. During this meeting your negotiating team countered the State’s offer. We presented an entire package for a three year contract including proposals for monetary terms and language changes. The team also proposed a new salary chart. The Union stressed the importance of our members and how this should not and will not negatively affect any member. The State has proposed a reimbursement to our Health Trust Fund of $43.00 per member that pays for the extra health insurance premium increase in 2009 that was paid for by Health Trust Fund Reserves. The State also offered an increase for each member in 2010 and 2011. Here are some of the language changes we proposed in the counter to the State: Contracting out language to remain at current contract language Classification review language to remain at current contract language. Remove the language the State proposed which excluded our Foreman from receiving the call back pay. Promotions to remain at current contract language. We proposed added language acknowledging all travel as time worked, rather than the Alaska Administrative Manuals language regarding Travel Time. We removed all Furlough language. We proposed to extend LWOP for illness to remain with the mandatory language and a potential 2yrs. Transfer language to remain at current contract language. Your Negotiating Team appreciates all the input given and is still accepting more. We will be returning to the table on March 2 & 3 in Anchorage to hear the State’s response to what we last presented. We will keep you updated and give you more information when it is available.

	2/16/10 The state has put across a package proposal that includes all the contract articles in one proposal including monetary terms. For pay raises, the state is offering a lump sum payment of $781 (the equivalent to a 1.5% aggregated payraise) to all members for the current year, payable July 1, 2010; conversion to a new step chart effective July 1, 2010, which they claim to be an average increase of 2.34%, and 1% July 2011. What they are proposing for language changes include: Watering down our contracting language – this would make it easier to privatize our jobs Take away our ability to challenge classification decisions – our contract currently allows us to challenge these decisions Extend probationary periods to 1 year Remove foremen from the call back provisions Take away travel pay and have the administrative manual cover travel policies Establishes furloughs (unpaid layoff) that circumvents our seniority system Change the one year leave of absence from mandatory to permissive but extend it to 2 years No longer require foremen positions to be filled at the duty station by allowing the state to hire foremen positions by any means they want Increase the number of people signing promotional listings from 3 to 5 Allowing transfers to bring 100% of their duty station seniority into the new duty station which would equate to statewide seniority Many of the proposals strike at the heart of protecting your job, giving you the chance to promote, and segregating our own members from the protections the contract provides. The state’s budget is developed on a couple of factors which include what is available in reserves, average oil prices, and average oil production. The state has well over $8 billion dollars in accessible reserves. The year to date average price of oil is about $10 a barrel higher than last March’s forecast and average production is slightly higher than projected. These last two factors combined create a $2.2 billion dollar surplus in this year’s budget alone. It wasn’t that long ago when all state employees were told that they would have to forgo any pay raises because of real budget crisis. You shouldered the burden for low oil prices. Now that the price of oil is higher than expected, this Governor is saying that you shouldn’t be recognized for your sacrifices during the hard times. Your negotiating team disagrees and is returning to the table on February 16 & 17 to counter these proposals. We will continue giving regular updates as more information is available.

	1/21/10 In an effort to keep you informed of the status of negotiations, we met with the state team January 12&13. We have submitted proposals to the state for all but two of the contract articles and have TA’d 12 to date. Included in this last round was a conceptual new wage and step chart that would allow for annual increments for the first 5 yrs and steps every other year there after. This more or less prevented the state from submitting a wage package because they need to figure out how the chart would work with any other proposal. What we have heard unofficially is that the general government unit and supervisors unit were offered 1.5%, 1%, 1%. We are planning on meeting again on Feb 2&3 in Juneau. Feel free to call the hall if you have further comments or questions.

	12/18/09 To date the negotiation team has met eight times. The Union has passed over all but three articles. We have also added a new one to the list – to create a Legal Benefit. This still needs to be agreed to by the administration. While we have tentatively agreed (TA’d) to seven articles, four of which we presented at book language, the State still have 19 in their possession. We continue to meet with the State to work on the other articles and have sessions for further negotiations scheduled in the months of Jan, Feb, and March. We had the privilege of having Danielle LeClaire from the Laborers International office in Washington DC sit in on negotiations and be part of the team. She comes from a distinguished background in the public employee union movement. Her insights on some of the state’s management practices proved very interesting. The negotiating team is still taking input and working very hard to get a good and fair contract that will be sustainable for you.

	11/6/09 “I appreciate that members are interested to know what is being discussed at the negotiation table. While I would like to give a detailed account, the nature of negotiations are such that it wouldn’t be prudent to give too many specifics. I can say that both sides have technically agreed to 6 contractual articles; which leaves 23 others for debate, one of which, of course, is the wages article. The process by which Local 71 and the state discuss the issues each has is by passing a proposed article, whether changed or not, to the other side for consideration and discussion. The side receiving that proposal then can return a counter-proposal or accept it. When a proposal is accepted, both sides “technically agree” to it or TA that offer. This continues till each article of the contract is accepted by both sides. After that has occurred and all 29 articles are TA’d, the contract is then sent to the legislature for funding and our membership for ratification. If either side fails to ratify it, then both sides come back to the table for further negotiation. We met the state team in Anchorage on Nov 4^th and will sit down again on the 1^st of December. Thank you for your patience. As I am able to distribute more information, I will. In the meantime, if you have questions feel free to contact Local 71. Respectfully. Bob Johnson

	10/27/09 Negotiations Update On October 20th, and 21st, the Local 71 Negotiation team met with the State team in Juneau. Commissioner Kreitzer talked about the State and the financial issues Governor Parnell is facing. She spoke of the need to have a sustainable contract. The state passed 3 articles to the union. The union passed 6 articles to the State. So far the State and the union have tentatively agreed upon two Articles. We will meet again on November 4th.

	10/13/09 Negotiations Update Local 71 met with the State's negotiating team on October 6^th and 7^th in Anchorage. The Union presented eleven Articles and the State responded by only tentatively agreeing to one. Our next meeting is scheduled for October 20^th and 21^st in Juneau. Our intentions are to meet with Commissioner Kreitzer during this two day session in Juneau for clarification on key issues. Additionally we have tentatively scheduled bargaining dates in November and December. Thanks again for your input and expressing your concerns.