SEIU Local 521

SEIU Local 521 Bargaining Report 02/13/24

SEIU/CWA 9423 Bargaining Update - 2/13/24

Your CWA bargaining team held discussions for two tables on Tuesday, February 13th over our successor contract and for the transitioning of CCPU from External to Internal. Below are the developments. Mark your calendars to attend our  Zoom meeting on Wednesday, February 21 from 8p-9p to hear more details and ask any questions. 

  1. CWA Successor Contract Session

We have our first Tentative Agreement (TA)! SEIU 521 management agreed with our proposal to move $3,000 from the Education Reimbursement Fund to the Wellness Fund.

Over the past three years, CWA members utilized only $ 1,000 from the Education Fund, while 100% of the Wellness Fund was exhausted in 2023, denying a number of our members access to wellness reimbursements. By moving this money over we now can ensure that 20 more wellness reimbursements will be paid each year.

Additionally, we secured language to ensure that temporary workers can appeal an evaluation from their supervisor.

Tentative Agreements:

  • Article - 45 EDUCATION & WELLNESS

  • Article - 11 PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS

These are the articles that SEIU 521 management presented at the negotiation table:

  • Article 13 - PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE

  • Article 38 - OUT-OF-TOWN ASSIGNMENTS - REJECTED

  • Article 41 - NO STRIKE / NO LOCKOUT - REJECTED

These are the articles that CWA 9423 presented at the negotiation table:

  • Article 2 - UNION SECURITY

  • Article 10 - NEW EMPLOYEES

  • Article 13 - PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE

  1. CCPU Transition Session

We kicked off a meeting with management to discuss the impacts of transitioning CCPU from the External department into the Internal department. We invited impacted workers into an informational session and took the questions our members asked by affected members to the table with management. Topics discussed included the concerns on workload and work/life balance and management took the position that they are within their rights to move forward with the job postings. 

“We made the decision already… I don’t see any negative impact on the positions.” - Robert Klimczak, Management, Chief of Organizing 

We will be following up with another request for information (RFI) and will keep everyone updated on steps that we may need to take to pressure management to address the workload concerns. 

Please keep in mind that we have yet to begin bargaining on any economic proposals at this time. All proposals are posted HERE. We are making our best effort to update this drive as quickly as possible.

Our upcoming bargaining dates are:

  • 2/20/2024 1-3pm

  • 2/22/2024 11am-2pm

  • 2/29/2024 11am-1pm

NEXT STEPS   

  1. Follow up with your CAT for info on our next collective action

  2. Please join us at the next special unit membership meeting to discuss today’s bargaining session and open the floor for any questions.

WHEN: Wednesday February 21, 2024 
TIME: 8-9 pm
ONLINE MEETING FOR SEIU/CWA MEMBERS ONLY: https://zoom.us/j/91238358926

In Solidarity,

Your Elected CWA 9423 Bargaining Team
Courtney Koger, Region 1
Chrissy Nelson, Region 2
Simone Cranston-Rhodes, Region 3 and 4
Megan Russell, Region 5