08/31 Bargaining Update
/Tentative Agreements:
We have successfully negotiated two tentative agreements! Articles 7 Schedules/Workweeks and 10 Reporting/Minimum Pay have language that both the City and the PCL bargaining team are prepared to sign. In Reporting and Minimum pay we have secured reporting pay compensation for all regular shift lengths. This includes 10 and 12 hour days as well as the 8 hour days that had been protected in the contract. In Schedules and Workweeks we have gained access to telework and flexible work schedules with managerial approval. We have also negotiated full pay for a minimum 8 hour break from work period employees are entitled to in between shifts. This means that members will be paid to stay home and get their needed rest when emergency situations force them to work hours that conflict with a consecutive 8 hour break.
A tentative agreement means that these articles are considered closed. The language we have negotiated is what will appear in the finished contract unless both the City and the Union agree to reopen these articles. These TAs will be available for review on the web page once signed by both parties.
Bargaining: The City again offered their standard counters on Article #6 “Working Out of Class”, #19 “FMLA”, and #33 “Evaluations”. Return to contract language. The City also restated their request to expand probation from 6 months to 9 months. The cynical refusal to engage will in no way deter our bargaining team from fighting for members on these articles.
For our part the PCL team proposed a return to 100% premium share and increased opt out payments in Article 17 Health and Life Insurance. This would eliminate monthly premium costs for healthcare for our members and increase the amount of money paid to members that forgo city sponsored health insurance. The team also proposed changes to Article 34 “Discipline and Discharge” that would automatically trigger a call to eliminate oral and written discipline from employee records after one year and more severe discipline records after 5 years. This combined with a requested 30 day timeline to bring disciplinary action on supposed infractions would prevent the City from punishing members for incidents in the distant past.
483 Community Party: Matt Dishman Community Center Staff Celebration and Barbeque is TOMORROW! Come by to meet with bargaining reps from the PCL and REC contracts while partying with your union brothers and sisters.
When
Thursday September 1st 3 pm-7pm
Where
Matt Dishman Community Center, 77 NE Knott St, Portland, OR 97212, USA