Contract campaign shifts into higher gear;
get ready to act!
Local 1000 members up and down the state are getting ready to act in support of bargaining as final preparations are underway for contract negotiations that begin May 20.
Local 1000 noticed the state last week that we intend to open numerous contract articles and that a key focus of our proposals will be issues that ensure we retain and attract qualified state workers.
Next week, members of the Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee (BUNC) will meet to finalize our initial contract proposals. Those proposals will reflect the priorities of members derived from more than 22,000 bargaining surveys, along with feedback from the thousands of members who attended “Listen-up” meetings in February and “Follow-up” meetings in April and May.
Top bargaining priorities identified by members included preserving our hardearned retirement benefits; protecting the 80/20 allocation of health care costs; and preventing the outsourcing of state work.
“Our members told us with a nearly unified voice that they understand this round of negotiations will be difficult … and that winning any wage increase or COLA in the face of a multi-billion dollar deficit will be a tough fight,” said Jim Hard, Local 1000 president.
Member actions will make the difference
Demonstrating strength and solidarity in support of our negotiating teams is the final, most important step in the bargaining process. “We need to show decision-makers that state workers are tired of just taking it, tired of being doormats,” said Yvonne Walker, Local 1000 vice president for bargaining. “We’re going to be more intense this time around, and members will make the difference.”
Members throughout the state are joining Contract Action Teams (CATs) that will facilitate demonstrations of strength and solidarity for our bargaining teams.
Contract Action Teams are member networks that provide rapid, two-way communications between your workplace and the bargaining table. More member participation means a stronger voice in support of negotiations. Joining a CAT is easy – forms are available from your Local 1000 steward or CAT leaders in your work place.