Bargaining updates: October 2
On Our Union Contract
Your Bargaining Team received counters from management on Article 4 Union Representation and Article 6 Discipline and Discharge
Management introduced a new article titled Zipper Integration Clauses which is a provision that would place strict limits on how the contract is interpreted in any disputes and arbitration proceedings. It would also allow management (and our union) to unilaterally refuse to bargain over any subject until the contract expires. Bargaining could occur between contracts, but both sides would have to agree to begin negotiations.
After our first caucus, we received an additional management counter on Article 1 Recognition
We countered on Union Representation and Discipline and Discharge
After our final caucus, we were able to reach a tentative agreement on Article 4 Union Representation! Key highlights of this article include:
We won the right to have 9 shop stewards, including at least 1 Chief Shop Steward. A shop steward is a colleague–it could be you–who helps their co-workers defend their rights and interests at work.
Newly designated shop stewards will be allowed 8 hours paid release time in their first year as a steward to attend Union Shop Steward training
Up to 3 union stewards will have the right to provide new bargaining unit hires a 30 minute union orientation
Any union member elected to or selected for office or as a delegate for specific union activities necessitating a leave of absence will be able to request a leave of absence no less than 2 weeks in advance
Personnel Issues
Richie Lipton joined our session to highlight his promotion process. The purpose of this was to illustrate the importance of outlining a clear promotion process in the contract, as Richie’s experience has been a yearlong journey that ended with him receiving the wrong title, and although he received a salary increase, his new job changed him from non-exempt to exempt, which has resulted in his pay being essentially the same as it was prior to the long awaited “promotion.” If you’d like to share your experience, contact us: bargain@calacademyworkersunited.org
Negotiations continue over Aleks Liou and one proposed involuntary layoff
Labor Movement News
East coast dockworkers won a significant raise of 62% over 6 years (which comes out to an average of 8.4% a year) in a tentative agreement reached on Thursday after a 3-day strike.
Remember…
Success in negotiation depends on your support and engagement!
Be on the lookout for colleagues with our Fair Contract Now petition
Wear your union button always and CAWU shirt on Thursdays
Sign up for membership here and talk with your colleagues about why it matters
Follow the CAWU article tracker, read the proposals and counters and speak to your representative on the bargaining team or a CAT activist about your issues and concerns
