We reached a tentative agreement on our successor contract! Our elected-Bargaining Team is unanimously recommending a “yes” vote to implement the new improvements as of July 1, 2020— raises and clarifying processes in our union contract. The details for the ratification meeting and highlights of the new contract are below.

This settlement was made possible because we all worked together to show our support and solidarity as a Union. Going into bargaining we had no idea how we would need to shift our timeline to address the pandemic. We worked together as a team to develop creative solutions with the information that we had. This allowed us to secure wins in our current contract as well as lay the foundation for strong, future agreements. We signed membership forms, filled out bargaining surveys, and demonstrated our union solidarity. This helped us to secure a fair contract—this was and will continue to be a team effort. We would like to also recognize the management of City of the Dalles for working with us in a collaborative way.

Next steps for all union members:

1) Vote on your new contract. A text message with the link to vote will be sent to your phone number on file.

2) Recommit your Union Membership!

3) Protect funding for the people we support by signing up on our political fund—CAPE.

Highlights:

• COLAs: All workers will receive a 2.5% cost of living increase on July 1 of 2020, a 2.5% cost of living increase on July 1, 2021 and a 2.5% cost of living increase on July 1, 2022.
• Healthcare: We will maintain the same premium share (100% employer paid for employee only coverage) throughout the agreement.
• Expanded Union Rights and Access to New Employees: We incorporated language from HB2016(PECBA) that expands our rights as a union including paid steward time, New Employee Orientations and release time.
• Vacation and Personal Holidays Cash-out: We won new language allowing us to cash out our vacation and personal holidays upon termination of employment with the city.
• Internal Job Postings: Management will now email open positions to all bargaining unit members.
• Non-Discrimination and Harassment: We won expanded Non-Discrimination language, including making our contract inclusive of all genders.
• Boot Allowance: We won the ability to use our boot allowance for resoling and/or repairing our boots including replacement laces and toe guards, if purchased at the time of repair.

 Questions?

Contact our elected Bargaining Team:

Charles Patterson, Jerry Johnson, Lance Harrington, Nathan Pope and Tyler Mitchell

…or call our SEIU Organizer, Tova Woyciechowicz, at 541-709-6403