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T E A

T i m e s

April 6 2006


This month's contents:

  1. Monthly TEA Meeting Agenda for April 12th
  2. Proposed Action to Increase Member Dues/Vote
  3. Auction to Support Fellow TEA Member
  4. TEA Transit Contract Update
  5. TEA-Transit Loan-In Status
  6. TEA Wastewater Class Grievance Arbitration Request
  7. April Meeting Schedule
  8. General Announcements/ Welcomes

Monthly TEA Meeting Agenda
(Wed., April 19, noon 8th floor KSC)

  1. Call to Order
  2. Vote on Recommended Financial Plan (increasing dues from 0.4% to 0.5%).
  3. Update on Transit and Wastewater Negotiations
  4. Update on Grievances
  5. Report on Transit-Roads "loan-in" issue
  6. Issues for the Good of the Order

Proposed Action to Increase Member Dues

As noted above, the monthly member meeting will include a vote on a Board-recommended proposal to increase dues from 0.4% to 0.5% of regular (non-overtime) wages. This has been discussed at several prior monthly member and Council of Representatives meetings. The impact would be an increase of $1.60 per paycheck for a member earning $20/hr. and $2.40 per paycheck for someone earning $30/hr.

The TEA Board understands our responsibility to manage your dues contributions carefully and frugally and does not take this action lightly. We have worked hard to move our union out of a debt position and keep us there. As the Treasurer's Report below shows, this increase would ensure that we cover anticipated Wastewater and Transit arbitrations (see separate article below) and other expenses without needing to go back to members for a future special assessment, as well as provide a small reserve cushion. We think it likely that The Board is also committed to revisiting this dues increase in future years in keeping with provisions of the Bylaws that require approval of an annual financial plan by the members.

Now it is up to all of us as members to decide whether you think this is a reasonable approach. We urge you to talk with your Council Representative, come to the monthly meeting with your questions, and most importantly - vote!

Refer to separate information piece prepared by Keven Sandquist that will be sent out by Patty Overby to all members.


Auction to Support Fellow TEA Member - We Hope You Will Participate

Last fall, Linda Anderson's (Transit member) eight-year old daughter (Mari) was hit by a drunk driver and now needs 24/7 care. To help with expenses, Linda's friends and co-workers have organized a showing, sale and on-line/silent auction of created or donated art by talented King County employees.

  • Silent Auction will be held on Friday, April 14 (7-9 p.m.) at Zeitgeist Coffee.
  • On-line Auction (link via TEA web site): teaseattle.org "This Special Auction Document" to bid on art items.

Deadline for bidding is noon, Wed., April 12.

Donations (cash or personal checks) are also gratefully accepted either at the door or by sending them in advance or after the event to Debbie Ervin (KSC-NR-0600) or Tammie Wilson (KSC-TR-0435).

All proceeds will benefit Linda and Mari Anderson.


TEA Transit Contract Issues

A letter has been sent to the State PERC (Public Employment Relations Commission) asking for PERC mediation in the contract negotiations, which has been agreed to by both TEA and the County. This likely means negotiations will await the assignment of a mediator before continuing.


TEA-Transit Loan-In Status

TEA Transit members are already aware of a request made by the County to work out some arrangement to allow Roads Division (non-TEA) staff to avoid layoffs (due to temporary funding gaps) by being loaned out to Transit D&C on a short-term basis. A TEA meeting with Transit staff generated a list of important issues and concerns that would need addressing as preconditions for any such agreement. The Board directed Eric Mandel, Roger Browne, Ken Madden and Alex Moran (the latter two volunteering as members of TEA Transit Staff Bargaining Unit) to work together and sit at the table in these negotiations. At this time, we are waiting for a response from the County to a proposal crafted by our attorney that includes protections members demanded. If the County decides to move forward with our proposal, we will bring any future tentative agreement to a TEA-wide member meeting to discuss it and get feedback to help direct the Board's decision on whether to proceed with an agreement or not.

This is an issue for all TEA members because a parallel agreement offered in this negotiation may result in a separate agreement to allow inter-bargaining unit opportunities between Transit and Wastewater staff, in addition to the general issues raised by some Transit members. The proposal will be discussed further at the monthly meeting, though we are still awaiting County response which may not occur for a while.

Important features of our proposal include guarantees that acting TEA classification positions would be created in the TEA Transit Bargaining unit and governed by the expired but still-in-effect TEA arbitration settlement; that existing TEA Transit members be given equal priority to compete for the positions; that verification of the applicant's qualifications for the TEA classification would be ensured by TEA supervisors who would be in charge of the selection process; and that selected applicants will become (if they aren't already) TEA members paying TEA dues for the duration.


TEA Wastewater Class Grievance Arbitration Request

Tea's grievance over the July 1 2005 step increase was denied by the County. We will proceed to arbitration over this issue, and we should have a final resolution in a few months.


April Meeting Schedule

April  6 Council of Reps. Meeting (12-1, 3D-3E)
April 10 WTD Bargaining Committee (12-1, 4C)
April 12 Board Business Meeting (12-1, 4G)
April 13 Wastewater Negotiations (9-12)
April 17  WTD Bargaining Committee (12-1, 4C)
   
April 19 Regular TEA Meeting (12-1:30 p.m., 8th floor Conference Center, King Street Center)
April 20 Wastewater Negotiations (9-12)
April 24 WTD Bargaining Committee (12-1, 4C)
April 26 Board Business Meeting (12-1, 4G)
April 27 Wastewater Negotiations (9-12)

Announcements

  • Welcome New TEA Members
    • Wastewater: Vicki Cowles, Nancy Ettele and Casey Plank
    • Transit: Sonia Copp and Ron Quist
Classified Ads (TEA members can post classified ads for free. Send classified ads to Patty Overby, TEA Secretary at (patty.overby@metrokc.gov)

TEA Board

   Eric Mandel, President
   Ade Franklin, Vice President
   Patty Overby, Secretary
   Keven Sandquist, Treasurer
   Roger Browne, Wastewater Bargaining Chair
   Dave Crippen, Transit Bargaining Chair
   John Phillips, Council of Reps. Chair