Tier 1 National Org

Today, January 15

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  7:31pm

  Kelly updated Dispelling Management's Myths

  Too many differences to list. See Revisions for details.
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  7:24pm

  Kelly updated Dispelling Management's Myths

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  7:22pm

  Kelly created Dispelling Management's Myths

  Union Family,Over the past week, I have been in contact with many members...

  Union Family,

  Over the past week, I have been in contact with many members of our Union who expressed concerns regarding City Management's recent city-wide emails and outreach involving our ongoing contract negotiation. These communications are misleading at best and seek to disrupt our membership's solidarity during our current strike authorization vote.

  First and foremost, we are alarmed by reports of supervisors instructing members not to vote, or that they were ineligible to vote in our proceedings. Let's be clear here: if you received your electronic ballot from ElectionBuddy informing you of our strike authorization vote, you are able to vote. If you have not yet received your ballot or are unsure of your membership status, please reach out to [email protected].

  We appreciate City Management's recognition that it is unlawful to interfere with collective bargaining rights, and we shall see that these rights are vigorously defended.

  Second, I need to address the updated proposal that Management sent to all City emails yesterday.

  Let's dig into their updated offer point by point:

  1. "A one-time $3,000 bonus"

  • While twice their original offer, this comes at the cost of 38 of our targeted increases, NO across the board increase, and NO longevity pay. Notably, Multnomah County gave $1,500 to its workers out of respect for their efforts throughout the pandemic. This seems an attempt to buy us off, likely using Federal funds meant for workers, as a bargaining chip. Meanwhile their proposal would have us continue to fall behind the rest of the labor market.
• "A 6.6% increase to base wages in the first two years"
• Here they're trying to dress up a 1.6% increase for half the year this year with all of next year's COLA to make it appear better than it is. The 5% increase they mention for this summer is not only already provided for by our contract, it is less than the predicted rate of inflation. Even their best efforts at damage control results in a functional pay cut for every union member.
• "1800 hours of City-paid union time per fiscal year (up from an earlier proposed 1560)"
• This is perhaps their most brazen attempt to confuse our membership, since there currently is no limit on City-paid union time per fiscal year, and the proposed 1560 hours was their earlier, worse proposal.

That’s as far as their new offer goes, but we should address some of their previous "offers":

• A targeted wage increase ... for 14 of the 49 classifications put forward by the union, affecting roughly 60 members across the city.

• An increased tool allowance ... that they insist will expire at the end of this contract.

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