Contract Talks

State Worker Notebook

Next round of contract talks
likely will be contentious

Read more: http://unionresource.blogspot.com/2010/08/contract-talks.html

Most of Oregon's state workers will take another unpaid
day off this Friday, August 20, when the sixth scheduled
government shutdown will occur.


But as an AFSCME union rep recently said, it's not too
long before the political season kicks off — if it hasn't already.
And before the dust has had a chance to settle, the Oregon
Legislature will convene and the next round of collective bargaining will begin.

...
Are state workers going to be asked to take more
furlough days, if the economy doesn't improve?

...There's no denying the next round of contract talks
are likely to be contentious. A bulls-eye has been painted
on state employees' benefits by Gov. Ted Kulongoski's
Reset Cabinet. State workers could find themselves fighting
tooth-and-nail to maintain benefits such as no-premium
health insurance and the state agencies' pick-up of
employees' 6 percent PERS contributions.


What could turn contention into acrimony would be
continued demands by politicians that state workers
bear the brunt of balancing the Oregon state budget,
especially if those politicians don't make any attempt
to look at other areas of potential savings, Hershey said.




State employees constantly talk about different ways the
agencies could be saving money, different pools of waste
that are simmering out there unchecked. There's no small
amount of frustration that no one seems to be taking their
concerns seriously, particularly since they are in the front
lines and in a position to identify wasteful practices.

"We're hoping to participate in a solution to all the state's
issues, and we want to be in the conversation early,"
he said. "You can deal with the official reality, but it does
not have to be mean-spirited and it does not have to reflect
badly on either party."

A sentiment very suited to Oregon. Now let's see how it plays out.
dmthomps@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6719


Read more: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100816/COLUMN0105/8160319/1160/COLUMN#ixzz0wq881FNr