More than 22,000 members return surveys; preparations for bargaining intensify

Results from more than 22,000 bargaining surveys are being reviewed by members of Local 1000’s Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committees (BUNCs) in preparation for upcoming contract negotiations.

“We received more than three times the response from members compared with 2005,” said Yvonne Walker, Local 1000 vice president for bargaining. “We’re listening carefully to members’ comments and concerns as we build a strategy for bargaining a new contract.”

BUNC members were crunching numbers with the help of Local 1000’s research and contracts departments to assess key member priorities – and took time to read and review thousands of individual member comments.

“Our members can take real comfort from the amount of preparation that goes into negotiations,” said Willie Cruz, vice chair of Unit 14’s bargaining committee. “Nobody prepares like we do.”

BUNC members also visited 11 worksites in just two days, meeting with more than 400 members to discuss the bargaining process and solicit additional member input.

A simulated negotiating session enabled BUNC members to develop strategies to promote member priorities at the bargaining table. “This intense session will really help us protect member interests when we sit down with the state,” said Rionna Jones, Unit 20 chair.

The contract campaign continues at an early April meeting of the State Bargaining Advisory Council (SBAC) which will focus on further review of the bargaining surveys and preparation for “Followup” meetings to be held at worksites throughout the state.