Bargaining In The Midst Of Economic Crisis

There is no doubt that the state is struggling financially and that we, as a union, are facing unprecedented economic times. To bargain contracts at this point in time is perhaps one of the most difficult challenges we face. The bargaining has been unrelentingly difficult.

The message from the membership was very clear. Healthcare bargaining was consistently our membership's highest priority. As most of you know, management's proposal was to reduce their contribution to the healthcare benefit and increase ours; going from 88/12 to 76/24. At the end of some difficult discussions and some long silences, healthcare bargaining ended with the state paying 85% and we pay 15%.

Knowing we cannot anticipate any cost of living consideration, the teams focussed on trying to get improved working condition language. Changes in these are hard fought as well. Management came into this process with take away proposals in every financial area and initially an unwillingness to bargain on issues our teams considered important. We are now seeing movement on their part and are hopeful that even in these extremely difficult economic times, we can come to an agreement that the membership will ratify. We don't anticipate increased earnings for our membership. We know we face potentially devastating job losses in many areas.

Having a contract is critically important as we face potential lay offs. There are protections in the contract that will provide good benefits for the membership from seniority rights to the right to be placed in the transition pool should a member face lay off. We will fight hard both here and in the legislature to save our members jobs and to save services to the public.

In the face of what has happened in the last election, where legislators cannot build revenue sources without a 2/3 majority and the loss of the unpopular 2 cents tax on soda pop, bottled water and candy, our reality is now a state where even hospice care is cut. What that means for all of us in terms of bargaining wages is evident.

We need to have a contract in place even if the wage language is less than what we deserve. If we have no contract, the legislature will certainly attack our healthcare benefit and we will likely end up with the 76/24 healthcare benefit cost split originally proposed by the Governor's negotiators in addition to large wage take aways.

The union's bargaining teams have never faced such difficult struggles as they have this year. My deep appreciation to all of them for their dedication and commitment to representing our membership to the best of their ability. Never have the teams faced such circumstances. They continue to work hard for you and are hopeful that we will have a contract to take to our membership very soon.

Stand Strong. Support our bargaining teams. Ratify the contracts when the negotiations conclude. These economic problems will improve. It will take some time. Meanwhile, we cannot afford to work without contract protections in place. Stand strong.