RICK EILANDER ELECTED PRESIDENT OF AFSCME COUNCIL 61
Todd Copley Elected Secretary/Treasurer at Biennial Convention This Weekend
URBANDALE – In convention this weekend, the delegates of AFSCME Council 61 unanimously elected Rick Eilander to be the next Council President. Eilander has been a union representative with the council since 2006, and most recently was an organizer working with locals and bargaining units to expand the reach of the union in their workplaces.
“Public workers need an advocate and a fighter in their corner. AFSCME Council 61 has been there for decades, and that will continue as long as I am President,” said President Eilander. “I want to thank President Danny Homan for his years of steadfast leadership that saw this council continue to thrive during his 16 years as president. I want to also thank the members of this council for putting their faith and trust in me. Public employees are the ones that keep Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas running, but far too often they are overlooked or attacked by elected leaders. It will continue to be the mission of this council to ensure that these public heroes are shown the respect they deserve, whether that’s at the bargaining table, the state house, or in Washington. I am excited to take on this new role, so now let’s get to work!”
Rick Eilander is a native of Newton, Iowa, who grew up in a union household. In 1994, he became a member of AFSCME first as a jailer and then chief jailer with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Department of Corrections in 1996 at the Newton Correctional Facility. While there he was a steward and ended as chief steward of AFSCME Local 451. In 2006, he joined the staff of AFSCME Council 61 as a union representative where he has managed contracts and helped organize locals to expand membership and train members to be effective advocates in their workplace.
In an effort to reach an agreement, the Union’s Nurses Unit went back to work and modified our previous proposal. It included some revisions including moving back the implementation of the deferred comp which reduced the overall cost for Lane County. We continue to push for reducing the number of steps to reach the top of the scale as well as adjusting mid level providers salaries. Our efforts will hopefully allow us to recruit and retain valuable staff for our Community Health Centers.
In an effort to reach an agreement, the Union’s Nurses Unit went back to work and modified our previous proposal. It included some revisions including moving back the implementation of the deferred comp which reduced the overall cost for Lane County. We continue to push for reducing the number of steps to reach the top of the scale as well as adjusting mid level providers salaries. Our efforts will hopefully allow us to recruit and retain valuable staff for our Community Health Centers.
We have left in the proposal that the County address the critical staffing shortage and the health concerns it creates for our members. We continue to be vocal about allowing comp time in the Nurses Unit.
We have left in the proposal that the County address the critical staffing shortage and the health concerns it creates for our members. We continue to be vocal about allowing comp time in the Nurses Unit.
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We have removed the Comp/class adjustment that the county proposed to classes that we have no empoloyee’s in.
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We have removed the Comp/class adjustment that the county proposed to classes that we have no employee’s in.
Our next bargaining session is scheduled for August 24th, which is more than 150 days since we began direct bargaining. In accordance with the Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act, we may move to mediated bargaining at that time. We expect for mediated bargaining to be more productive and that the County’s bargaining team will be available to meet more...
I started as a summer temp working in PPB Records in 1987 the day after high school and did 2 more summers after that. I went to college and got a degree in Criminal Justice and was permanently hired in 1993. I’ve been a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in Clark Co, worked in PPB Records, Detectives, and was a 9-1-1 dispatcher.
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I met my wife at work (while having my job eliminated) and we have been happily married for 10 years. We have 2 spoiled & loved Chihuahuas, enjoy travel, and spending time with family.
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I also wear many different hats. Some of these hats include being the PPB Tow Board Representative, Employee Assistance Peer Support, acting supervisor, steward & Chapter Chair, certified DPSST trainer, and being a trainer at work from new hires in Records to officers/detectives and other bureau personnel.
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I have been with the city for 28 years now and am trying to implement positive changes before retirement through union work, peer support, training, and Tow Board. My goal is to have a union that we can...
