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tea » archives » January 15, 2019

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Topics

1. Monthly Meeting
2. Call for Leave Donation
3. WW Bargaining Update
4. Transit Bargaining Update
5. President's message

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Monthly Meeting

The January TEA Monthly Meeting is Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at King Street Center, Room 4-C from noon to 1. We want to start 2019 defining our 2019 goals. Bring all of your ideas. I would also would like to spend some time discussing and soliciting participation in our communication committee.

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Call for Leave Donation

Mary Natwick, WW Administrative Staff, will be away from work for an extended period and facing a serious medical condition. She could very much use donated leave during this time.

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WW Bargaining Update

We have received notice that the Prosecuting attorney's Office approved the TEA WW Staff and Supervisor's Ratified contract on Friday, January 11, and I will be working on moving forward to step 2 of our process.

The following typical steps (revised slightly to meet our current understanding) need to occur on the County's side in order to have the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) implemented:

1. Office of Labor Relations (OLR) prepares Transmittal Documents and Fiscal Note, and routes the package to the Prosecutors Office for legal review;
2. After the package is completed and passes review by the PAO, the TEA President is invited to sign the contract, and OLR routes it to the Executive's Office — usually the same day. The Executive's Office has 45 days to review, but we may see some time savings here. After that period, Executive's Office routes the package to Council. This could occur sometime in January.
3. The ordinance adopting the CBA is received by the Clerk of the Council and stamped in. The Executive's Office then locates a Council Sponsor (probably the Regional Water Quality Committee Chair) who then places the ordinance on the Council's calendar;
4. The ordinance adopting the CBA receives its first reading before Council and referral to committee for Council Action;
5. The committee invites the County and TEA representatives to the committee's meeting to answer questions. After hearing the proposed legislation, the committee will vote on adopting the ordinance. It could recommend expediting the agreement and placing it on the on the Consent Calendar for the next meeting of the Council.
6. The CBA package is voted on by King County Council;
7. The ordinance adopting the CBA is sent to Executive for signature;
8. The CBA becomes law 10 days after signature.
9. Central Payroll works with OLR and Wastewater HR to begin the process of implementing the new wage increases and the retro payment of General Wage Increases (formerly COLA). The prospective date when the new wages go into effect is determined and implemented; the following pay period is when the retro is usually paid.

Due to the County's process, TEA is anticipating that the implementation of the CBA could stretch into March, 2019, most likely. There are some opportunities along the way to expedite and the Office of Labor Relations has assured me that they will to try to assist in that regard.

Alton Gaskill
TEA President

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Transit Bargaining Update

TEA Transit will be scheduling a meeting in January/February to discuss the contract bargaining objectives with members. The supplemental arbitration decision on retroactive stamp for the existing CBA agreement is expected any day.

President's Message

One overriding principle that I keep thinking back on is that TEA, and all unions, require unity of purpose among members if they are going to successfully maintain favorable wages and working conditions. There probably is no better example of this than when the Joint Labor Management Insurance Committee (JLMIC) Bargaining Team insisted that TEA WW be included in its agreement with County.

As you may have heard already, the TEA WW Supervisors Bargaining Unit has recently indicated their intent to change their representation to Teamsters Local 117. This change will be implemented as soon as the new WW Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is in effect. The County and TEA are supportive of the WW Supervisors' interest to change representation. I will do everything within my authority as President to assure that their wishes are respected. I believe that this change does not reduce TEA's or other labor organizations' ability to bargain great contracts to preserve wages and working conditions. As we wish the WW Supervisors well, Transit Department will increase TEA Design and construction members, now 73+ strong. Unions will continue to share information, support one other, and build on collective gains at the bargaining table.

As TEA members, we can certain have many different ideas on how to move forward. I will be actively opening up avenues to solicit those communications, especially from Transit and WW TEA members who may not have felt they had a full voice in TEA. Last year, 2018, saw many changes, and positive steps in this direction with active member participation in bylaw changes that add transparency and communication to our processes. All TEA members, both in Transit and Wastewater, should feel that there are opportunities for their concerns or ideas to be heard. Let me know if you would like to talk or suggest other venues to discuss your ideas. I am hoping to build a strong communications committee in 2019. Our strength as a union depend on mindfully and respectfully gathering our members' individual contributions, interests, talents, and engagement into a unity of purpose that benefits all our members.

Alton Gaskill
TEA President

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