With a short ten days remaining until our current contract expires, our Unit 15 team reports some additional engagement by the State’s negotiating team—but not enough, and no real progress on the key economic issues identified by the Allied Service workers we represent.
Three of our money proposals have been moved to master table negotiations, covering SSAs and a boost in uniform allowance. We’re frustrated that the State hasn’t been forthcoming with explanations as we seek to understand the other side’s position after almost 9 weeks of bargaining. We received no other proposals from the State today.
In many cases, our working conditions are priorities for our Unit 15 members, and in Monday’s session, we focused our energy on reaching solutions on two issues: overtime distribution and re-directed assignments.
Too often, our represented employees don’t get offered an opportunity to work overtime shifts, and our bargaining team and Unit 15 leaders have long been fighting for contract language that supports equitable access to OT shifts.
“We’re demanding that the State apply simple fairness to a wholly unfair process,” said Brent Andrews of the Unit 15 bargaining team. “We’ve shared a number of compelling stories that illustrate the lost economic opportunity for our members.”
The fight for positive change in access to overtime assignments continues, and we’re not finished. At the same time, the State is resistant to our demand for stronger language to protect our members from being redirected to or “cross-covering” working assignments outside their normal duties. Here, too, the process continues, and our team is planning the next steps.
We reached agreement to update the language on one provision with the State, which will increase the number of departments committing to provide proper training on infectious diseases and blood-borne pathogens:10.25.15 – Infectious Disease Control
We reached agreement with the State on three additional existing provisions that preserve the rights we won in previous contract campaigns:
- 10.33.15 – Laundry and Kitchen Temperature and Visibility
- 15.2.15 – Joint Labor Management Appeal of Voluntary Transfer
- 11.16.15 -Cook’s Classification
Unit 15 will return to the table on Monday, June 26. To see updates on other bargaining unit contract sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at www.seiu1000.org
There’s real truth to the Local 1000 slogan, Stronger Together. We only win a great contract with a strong Local 1000 membership. So, if you’re not already a member, we encourage you to join us today.
If you are, help support bargaining teams by purpling up on Wednesday and attending our upcoming rally in Los Angeles on June 22.