King County Wastewater News
Bargaining UpdateThe bargaining team has been meeting with management since May of 2006, beginning with a training on "interest-based bargaining". While we continue to have useful discussions during each session, and we believe we understand each party's "interests" and "issues", there is little that we've been able to agree upon. We are all disappointed at the slow pace we're making in finalizing a tentative agreement that we can take to the members for a vote.
Our current practice is to meet every other week for full-day sessions. Unfortunately, however, this sometimes (with occasional illnesses and work conflicts) means we might meet only once a month. And we're still far apart on many items of great concern to our members.
A special thank you to Ron Spriggs, utility worker from West Point. Ron stepped up and filled a vacancy on the bargaining team last spring. He notified Chapter President John McMillin on February 20th that he was not able to commit to continue in his role as an at-large representative on the bargaining team.
To fill the vacancy left when Ron stepped down, the stewards voted unanimously to appoint Lloyd Holman (Master Mechanic, West Point). Clearly, when 925 members held our first vote for bargaining team members, Lloyd received a tremendous number of votes. He has many years of institutional knowledge and has served in this role in the past. Although originally selected by the membership, he left the team even before we first met when he took a temporary lead assignment in Renton. That assignment is over now, and we expect him to be joining us at our next session on March 13th.
For the record, the current bargaining team is: John McMillin, Chad Clay, Jean Durbin, Terry Fiber, Lloyd Holman, Tom Haeflinger, Jim Frame, and Suzanne Wagner.
updated February 27, 2007
VEBA RejectedKing County WTD members of SEIU 925 just completed voting on the VEBA plan for those that retire in 2007, 2008, and 2009. 73% of those that voted said "NO!" to the plan. Therefore, there will be no change to current retirement benefits.
In late 2009, we may be presented with another opportunity to opt into the plan. In the meantime, many other King County employees have chosen to try it out. We'll have a much better idea of how it works for others in three years, and will be able to learn from them if they are satisfied with their decision or if they regret moving to the VEBA plan.
Upon retirement, members will continue to receive their BT cashed out at 100% for their first 480 hours, and at 35% for any BT over 480 hours.
updated October 5, 2006
Bargaining Update. August 22, 2006:Management & our union bargaining team have now exchanged our lists of interests and issues with each other. Based upon these interests, we exchanged proposals and issue statements when we met on Tueday, August 22nd. All of the Union's proposals were compiled after a thorough review of the bargaining surveys. Management is asking for some significant changes in our seniority rights, and modifications to our current labor-management relationship. The partnership between labor and management developed in our contract many, many years ago has helped us to make Metro King County's Wastewater Treatment Division one of the most innovative and successful utilities in the industry. Maintaining our role in decision making as well as continuing respect for long-term, experienced members will remain foremost in our focus over the coming months. Our next session is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12th.
The first full session of actual bargaining occurred June 27th, during which we reviewed "left-over" items of concern: those concerns that we were unable to resolve in our labor-management forum and those that led to grievances where we found the union contract language to be inadequate to meet our interests.
Thank you to all the members that completed surveys. The full survey results will be made available to all members (and to management) shortly. Your input is greatly appreciated and will help to shape the direction of our negotiations.
A special thank you to the members whose schedules or workloads have been impacted by allowing the bargaining team members to be released from duty during our sessions.
Our next session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 11th.
Bargaining Begins! Our negotiating team has begun meeting with management to bargain a new contract. We've agreed on our operational rules and completed training on interest-based bargaining. In order to minimize impact on operations, we'll be meeting for full day sessions, every other week, and have sessions scheduled through the summer.
Best Wishes to Retired Steward Ruby Aldrich who has set the standard at our South Treatment Plant for caring for her union colleagues. With a memory like an encyclopedia and a heart of gold, her presence will be sorely missed. At her Retirement Party held Thursday March 30, SEIU Local 925 presented Ruby with the title "Steward Emeritus", which means her contributions to SEIU 925 (and SEIU Local 6 before that) and the Wastewater Union family earn her lifelong status as a leader of our local.
Best Wishes also to Chapter President Norman Cook, who is leaving his employment with King County to pursue other career opportunities. Thank you for your willingness to volunteer and the support you've shown your fellow members.
Congratulations to Lloyd Holman, who has accepted a 6-month lead assignment for the Mechanical Team at the South Treatment Plant . Due to this new assignment, Lloyd has resigned from the bargaining team, thereby moving Jim Frame (the other mechanical team candidate that ran for the designated position) into this designated position. Jim's "At-Large" position will consequently go to the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes in last week's election, Ron Spriggs, Utility Worker, Buildings & Grounds, West Point.
SEIU Local 925's Complete Bargaining Team
- Chad Clay, Operator, Off-Site (based at West Point)
- Norm Cook, Operator, Off-Site (based at Renton) & Chapter President
- Jean Durbin, Senior Operator, West Point
- Terry Fiber, Industrial Maintenance Electrician, West Point
- Debbie Foley, SEIU Local 925 Organizer/Rep
- Jim Frame, Industrial Maintenance Mechanic, Renton
- Tom Haeflinger, Senior Operator In Charge, Renton
- Ron Spriggs, Utility Worker, Buildings & Grounds, West Point
- Suzanne Wagner, Process Lab Specialist II, Renton
updated 9:30 AM, Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Final Vote Count!One hundred Local 925 members voted to select the at-large positions on the SEIU WTD bargaining team on February 15th & 17th. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes were Jean Durbin & Jim Frame (each receiving 31% of the vote). They will be added to our bargaining team, as follows (in alphabetic order):
Chad Clay, Operator, Off-Site (based at West Point)
Norm Cook, Operator, Off-Site (based at Renton) & Chapter President
Jean Durbin, Senior Operator, West Point
Terry Fiber, Industrial Maintenance Electrician, West Point
Jim Frame, Industrial Maintenance Mechanic, Renton
Tom Haeflinger, Senior Operator In Charge, Renton
Lloyd Holman, Industrial Maintenance Mechanic-Master, West Point
Suzanne Wagner, Process Lab Specialist II, Renton
updated 9:30 AM, February 17, 2006
Bargaining Team Coming Together!
121 members voted February 7th & 9th for workgroup representatives for our negotiations team. The winners are:
*
Operations: Tom Haeflinger and Chad Clay
*
Mechanical Craft: Lloyd Holman
*
Instrument Tech/Electrician Craft: Terry Fiber
*
Process: Suzanne Wagner
Two open positions (our "at large" positions) still need to be filled. We'll be electing our representatives for these last two slots in votes at the plants on Wednesday, February 15th, and Friday, February 17th, as follows:
Second Round (“at-large” positions)
Wednesday, Feb 15th 5:30-7:00am, 11:30am-noon
* West Point – Administration Building - Baker Room
* Renton – Construction Trailer Conference Room
Friday, Feb 17th 5:30-7:00am
* West Point – Administration Building - Baker Room
* Renton – Construction Trailer Conference Room
Although there are four candidates, members will be allowed to vote for one candidate only. The 2 candidates receiving the most votes will be elected.
The candidates are Ron Spriggs (Buildings & Grounds), Jim Frame (Mechanical Craft), Jean Durbin (Operations), and Sandy Burns (Operations). Candidate statements are listed below:
Ron Spriggs
“My name is Ron Spriggs. I am interested in running for the Negotiating Team for SEIU Local 925. I have been a shop steward in good standing for three years. I have the support of my business team.”
As a member of the Building and Grounds of West Point, I will support all aspects of Building/Grounds both at West Point and Renton. Thank you for your support."
Jim Frame
“I’m a Maintenance Mechanic with 25 years experience with King County Metro. I would like to be on the Contract Negotiation Team.”
Jean Durbin
“It's hard to believe that the time has come around again to put together another Contract Negotiating Team. Seems like just yesterday the last Negotiating Team was sweating it out in meetings and waving its many arms and raising its collective voices in solidarity. Oh, wait a minute... maybe it WAS just yesterday.
Of all the experiences I had as your Union Chapter President, what stands out most in my mind is the valuable learning I did as part of the last Contract Negotiating Team. I'm sure you all know the saying that "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". I think it very much holds true here. I learned a great deal being in on the last contract negotiation, and I would welcome the opportunity to serve on the upcoming Negotiation Team as well. I learned from our history. I believe I can be a vocal and valuable part of the negotiation process this time, too. If you would allow me to help you as members of SEIU Local 925 to have a voice in the upcoming contract negotiations representing Operations, please consider giving me the great honor of being part of the new Team as well.
Thank you.”
Sandy Burns
“I am interested in being on the negotiating team for this next contract. I work at West Point. I am assigned to C crew, but currently am working in day operations for 6 months.
I have been at the County for 14 months, and have worked as an operator in the wastewater field for 12 years prior to coming here.
Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.”
Our chapter bylaws define the committee as consisting of the Union Staff Representative (Debbie Foley), the Unit President (Norm Cook), Two (2) representatives from Operations (Tom Haeflinger & Chad Clay); One (1) representative from the Mechanical craft (Lloyd Holman); One (1) representative from the Instrument Technician/Electrician craft (Terry Fiber); One (1) representative from Process (Suzanne Wagner); and two (2) at-large representatives.
According to our chapter bylaws, Union Members in good standing will be allowed to vote for one (1) representative per group or section. In the event of a tie, a separate vote will be conducted to decide which of the candidates tying will be selected as the representative for each group or section.
The first round of voting was for the designated work group positions, as defined by our chapter bylaws. The second round, held the following week, will be for the at-large positions.
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147 SEIU Local 925 members voted in the WTD Chapter President run-off election, held December 13 & 15, 2005. The final tally was 89 votes for Norm Cook and 58 votes for John McMillin.
We want to thank John for stepping up to the plate to run for this position. A special thank you goes out to Jeanne Durbin who has served as our Chapter President for the past 3-1/2 years. Jeanne has dedicated countless hours working on behalf of our membership; her contributions will long be remembered and appreciated.
Congratulations to Norm Cook. He is our new Unit President and his term will be from now until October 31, 2008. Below is the statement Norm submitted upon announcing his candidacy for this position.
Norman R Cook Sr, Group 2 Off-Site Operator
"I believe in the direction that we have taken in S.E.I.U. #925. We have made great progress in the past 3 years, but there is still a lot of ground left to cover. The management of King County WTD has grown and become so political that they have forgotten what it is that we do. We are first and foremost public servants that perform a service which is essential to the quality of life of everyone in King County. Also, we are a role model to the Pacific Northwest Region. We are not a rag-tagged group of unskilled, uneducated, manual laborers.
As President I will work tirelessly to put our issues of wages, healthcare, safety, and value to King County in the upcoming labor negotiations. I will also work to bring all of our bargaining units into one united body that stands equally for every members needs.
My experience includes two years as Unit Secretary of Shell Oil Companies Bargaining Unit in the Oil Chemical and Atomic Workers Union Local #128, member of the Oil Bargaining Contract Negotiating Team 1988-1999, and I have over seven years experience as a Union Steward. I thank you all for your support and consideration."
We're getting ready for a new contract campaign!
Our current contract expires October 31, 2006. We'll be electing our bargaining team soon. The team will consist of the following Shop Steward members and the Union Staff Representative: The Unit President, Two (2) representatives from Operations; One (1) representative from the Mechanical Craft; One (1) representative from the Instrument Technician/Electrician craft; One (1) representative from Process; and Two (2) at-large representatives. Stewards interested in running for one of these positions need to nominate themselves by sending an email to our 925 representative, Debbie Foley, at dfoley@seiu925.org no later than Friday, January 13, 2006. The email needs to include your statement for the ballot. We plan to begin bargaining with WTD management on February 28th. The L925 team will be holding at least one meeting before that date, and will likely be polling the membership for ideas and concerns about our contract in the near future.