The Wastewater Bargaining Team has just finished a session with the County where we
were presented with a new offer, one that the team and our attorney feel is worth at
least considering.
Stay tuned!
A very big thanks to our members for their support during this critical time!!!
It has come to our attention that some members are not comfortable with the tone
of the sample letter we are asking you to send to Ron Sims, while others would like
to see an even stronger position taken.
We have asked that you use the sample as a guide (see www.teaseattle.org), and that
your own words and feelings are the most powerful way to send a message.
Please write something you are personally comfortable with, but do add your voice.
Do let Executive Sims know that we are frustrated with the pace of negotiations and the
lack of movement, and feel that all appeals to date to address the concerns listed in
the sample letter have been dismissed.
If you have questions, ask your bargaining committee members - they are also listed on
the TEA website.
Thank you very much for your support!
We are at a critical point in Wastewater negotiations, both in terms of bargaining at
the table and ability to influence the political process. Some 60 members at the monthly
meeting today (October 19) unanimously supported the TEA Board and Wastewater Bargaining Team to take
the extraordinary step of requesting that EVERY UNION MEMBER (Wastewater and Transit) sit
down in the next day and compose a strong letter to Executive Ron Sims.
This should be prepared for emailing from your home computer, with a copy mailed through regular U.S. mail.
Messages in your own words are most powerful, but some suggested points can be found in this Microsoft Word .rtf document (download).
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER TO
ron.sims@metrokc.govand copy us at
tea.seattle@gmail.comso we know how many emails went out. Mail your letter as well to
Ron Sims, King County Executive
701 Fifth Ave., Suite 3210
Seattle, WA 98104
It will not work if only a few people do this - we need a unified UNION effort to pressure our County management to change their position. Remember, this is your livelihood we're bargaining!!!
| Oct 17 | Wastewater Negotiating Committee (12-1, KSC rm. 7045) | |
| Oct 18 | Transit Negotiating Committee (12-1, KSC 4G) | |
| Oct 19 | TEA Regular Meeting (12-1pm, Large 8th Floor Conference Room, King Street Center) | |
| Oct 20 | WTD Contract Negotiations (8-12) | |
| Oct 20 | Board Business Meeting (12-1pm, 4G, King Street Center) | |
| Oct 24 | Transit Contract Negotiations (8-12, 4G) | |
| Oct 24 | Wastewater Negotiating Committee (12-1, KSC rm. 7045) | |
| Oct 25 | Transit Negotiating Committee (12-1, 4G) | |
| Oct 27 | WTD Contract Negotiations (8-12) | |
| Oct 27 | Board Business Meeting (12-1pm, 4G, King Street Center) | |
| Oct 31 | Wastewater Negotiating Committee (12-1, KSC rm. 7045) | |
| Nov 1 | Transit Negotiating Committee (12-1, 4G) | |
| Nov 3 | WTD Contract Negotiations (8-12) | |
| Nov 3 | Board Business Meeting (12-1pm, 4G, King Street Center) | |
| Nov 8 | Transit Negotiating Committee (12-1, 4G) | |
| Nov 10 | WTD Contract Negotiations (8-12) | |
| Nov 10 | Board Business Meeting (12-1pm, 4G, King Street Center) | |
| Nov 11 | HOLIDAY (Veterans Day) | |
| Nov 15 | Transit Negotiating Team (12-1, 4G) | |
| Nov 16 | Annual TEA Meeting (12-1 pm, Chinook/King Conference Rooms on 6th floor, King Street Center) | |
| Nov 17 | WTD Contract Negotiations (8-12) | |
| Nov 17 | Board Business Meeting (12-1pm, 4G, King Street Center) | |
| Nov 22 | Transit Negotiating Committee (12-1, 4G) | |
| Nov 24 & 25 | HOLIDAY (Thanksgiving) | |
| Nov 29 | Transit Negotiating Committee (12-1, 4G) |
All our union members should be aware that the Wastewater Bargaining Team is considering asking them to prepare a letter to Ron Sims urging a prompt and fair conclusion to wage negotiations with the Wastewater bargaining units.
A decision on whether to take this action will occur in the next week and will depend on any substantial changes in the offer from the County in bargaining.
If we do ask you to take this extraordinary step, a bulleted list of points will be sent you, and you will be asked to email Executive Sims from your own home computer on your own time.
Executive Sims has made certain assurances to TEA recently and we need to see if they are reflected in a change in the bargaining position of the County negotiators. Stay tuned! Ask the WW Bargaining Committee members if you want more info.
Note: This vote will take place at the October 19th monthly meeting; proxy vote forms (for those wanting to vote but who cannot attend) may be downloaded from the TEA website main page at www.teaseattle.org.
Based on proposals from members, the Board is recommending amending the Bylaws to create some new positions to share workload and more accurately reflect the reality of separate negotiations between the two Divisions. Instead of the current five Board positions, it is proposed there be seven positions.
Essentially, the current 2nd Vice President office would be abolished and replaced by two new officers that would be Chair of each Bargaining Committee, one each for WW and Transit. In addition, the current Council of Representatives position would be "elevated" to an actual Board position.
Because the change impacts many parts of the bylaws (since they reference current Board offices), rather than posting them here in the TEA Times, the full version of both the current bylaws and the proposed amended versions are on our TEA website.
The most substantive changes can be found in
To See a Complete Version of the Bylaws with proposed Revisions, go to TEA Web site.
Nominations for Board positions close Tuesday, November 1.
This reflects the member decision at last month's meeting to postpone the annual meeting (and elections) until the result of the amendment vote is known this month.
Please get your nominations to the Nominating Committee (Gary Ikeda, Ken Madden, Lee Miller and Robin Robinson) or any TEA Board officer.
Assuming the proposed Bylaw Amendments pass (see above), the positions to be filled and voted on at the November 16 Annual meeting are:
Treasurer
WTD Bargaining Chair
Transit Bargaining Chair
Council of Representatives Chair
Each of these positions is for a two-year term of office. We encourage all our members to consider running for these positions - it is the most direct way to have an impact on the direction and operation of our organization! We welcome new energy and ideas - please consider running!
County employees recently received notification that personalized open enrollment packets for 2006 benefits are being mailed to employees' homes and that the deadline for making changes is Friday, Oct. 28.
Please note that you ARE expected to return this form, as it reflects current benefit offerings to TEA members.
TEA employees will continue to be covered under the existing benefits until a new contract is negotiated.