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T E AT i m e sOctober 15 2009Come to the Monthly TEA meeting on Wed., 10/21, and enjoy a pizza lunch courtesy of the TEA Board. Topics
1. Furlough ULP Update Recent Furlough Decisions at PERC In the last month or so, PERC has ruled on two cases involving furloughs and the legality of a broad cut in wages. In both cases PERC has sided with the unions. In the Griffin School District case and the ATU (Amalgamated Transit Union) Local 587 PERC determined that the furloughs are a mandatory subject of bargaining. It is not a management right to impose furloughs and the resulting wage reduction. This is TEA's argument as well. In the Local 587 decision the furlough agreement bargained with the Coalition of Unions was not bargained with Local 587, therefore, the furloughs could not be imposed on Local 587 and needed to be bargained directly with the union. Local 587 is not a member of the Coalition. Again, this is an argument made by TEA. Since the Local 587 decision was the first decision made by PERC concerning King County furloughs, it has a good outlook for the eventual PERC ruling for TEA. The Local 587 contained many of the same complaints of TEA's unfair labor practice (ULP). The lawyers from both unions worked together to make their respective cases. The Local 587 case was much smaller than TEA's and there was less evidence presented. This is most likely why this ruling came out before TEA's. As part of the bargained contract, TEA signed an MOU relieving the wastewater staff covered by our new contract from any remedies in the PERC ruling when it is issued. At this time, Transit staff, Wastewater Supervisors and the Wastewater Project Control unit would still be covered by the pending ULP. TEA agreed to the MOU because the County had bargained in good faith the furloughs as part of the total contract, this was a major argument to our point of view from signing the furlough agreement last year. Both rulings from PERC are accessible on the PERC Web site and give much more detail. The links are:
2. Bargaining Updates
Wastewater Staff Contract Update WW Supervisors Contract Update Transit Contract Update 3. TEA Political Action Committee The TEA-PAC is busy this election year. We have been trying to keep up with the King County Executive's race. At this time we have received a response from a questionnaire from Councilmember Constantine's campaign. It will be posted on the TEA Web site soon. The PAC will be making an endorsement decision by October 16. We strongly encourage TEA members to get involved in the election. More information will come out in the upcoming weeks. There are several debates scheduled to be on air soon. 4. Personal Holiday Reminder Each year we receive two personal holidays. One on October 1st and the other November 1st. These two personal holidays will be entered as hours into your vacation bank, prorated for standard weekly hours, with a maximum of 8 hours for each holiday. The October 1st personal holiday hours have been loaded into payroll. You will see these hours on your October 15th paycheck. Please check your paycheck next week to make sure the hours have come across correctly. 5. Announcements Mika Petaia has lost over 10 of his relatives to the tsunami in American Samoa. In addition he has a family member who requires medical care. Because he is almost out of leave time we'd like to ask for anyone who can make a sick or vacation leave donation by posting in the TEA Times. Thanks for your consideration. 6. October Meeting Schedule
October 20 — Bargaining Issues Meeting for WW Supervisors, 12-1, KSC, 8J TEA Board
Roger Browne, President |