NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

Union Membership Meeting Notice

~Thursday, November 10, 2005, at 7:30PM in Union Hall,
3049 South 36TH ST (rear of Bldg) (Union Hall Map)

~Friday, November 11, 2005, at 10:00AM in the Union Office,
10828 Gravelly Lake DR. SW, #202 (This meeting is cancelled due to Veteran's Day)

~Tuesday, November 15, 2005, at 7:30PM
Longshoreman’s Hall, 627 14th AVE (Longview) (Longshoreman's Hall Map)

~Executive Board
Thursday, November 3, 2005, at 3:30PM (Union Office) (Union Office Map)

Sonya Ogden, Rec.Sec./Newsletter Editor

Pattie Clark, Union Sec./Online Newsletter Editor

     First and foremost I want to thank the membership of this Local for their involvement in the voting of our contract proposal. We had an excellent turn-out for both votes. I also would like to thank the members of your Union negotiating team two (2) of which it was their first time. It is a very time consuming, tedious process as the Union and Management may have had common interests but it is the way both parties get to resolution that makes the process so grueling. Team members gave up vacation time and days off and in addition for a period of approximately five (5) months still had to go out and perform their regular job duties, sometimes listening to false rumors and misinformation on a daily basis. I also owe thanks to your Executive Board Officers who were not privy to the negotiation process but did as good a job as possible providing information to the membership.

     Although the contract proposal was ratified by the membership, the process is not complete. Your negotiation team must still proof minutes of negotiation sessions (when all else fails in a contractual dispute the negotiation minutes may very well clarify the intent of particular verbiage), we also must proof and clarify language changes or additions (which could adversely affect the contract in the future). The final step in the process is ratification by the Transit Board of Commissioners, which should hopefully happen at the Board Meeting November 14, 2005.

     Implementation of certain parts of our agreement will become effective within 30 days and the remaining January 1, 2006. Retro and Lump Sump adjustment checks will be available December 9, 2005. The original intent was to have them available by November 23, 2005 but due to the fact it is a pay week and already two (2) days would be cut out of the pay cycle, it was or is impossible to run a 2nd cycle of checks by that Wednesday. Due to tax purposes the checks will be separate. New wages will also be effective December 9, 2005.

     Thank you the membership once again for your involvement in this process.

     P.S. In future articles I will address some of the contractual proposals that some of the membership may still be misinformed or need clarification, about and perhaps committees to address the proposals.

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Due to promotions and resignations the following positions have become vacant on your Executive Board:

Service Supervisor – (1) representative
Maintenance JLM Pos I – (1) representative
Operator Pos III – (1) representative
Facilities Maintenance – (1) representative
Relief Operator – (1) representative

Please forward letters of interest to the Union Office by Monday, November 28, 2005. Appointments to be made December 1, 2005 and Term of office to begin January 1, 2006.    

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Sonya Ogden, Recording Secretary
recsec@atu758.org

Where’s the Motor Home?

     On Friday, October 14, 2005 we held the voting for the 2005 contract in a tent that Pierce Transit provided for the Union. About 4:00 PM that afternoon a storm came thru and threatened the stability of the tent. In fact, I was in the lobby at the time and came back out and saw that all the Officers that were in the tent and other members were literally holding down the tent so that it would not blow away. Within about 10 minutes a transit bus had been pulled around to finish up the voting for that day arranged by President Isaac Tate thru VP HR & Labor Relations Marnie Slakey and Maintenance Manager Jay Rosapepe. Within about 20 minutes the tent was pulled down and put away by members, led by member Joe DiGiulio on his own time. Thru out that day I received the question from the members, “Where’s the motor home?.”

     In the past Retiree George May has provided his motor home for the Union to hold the contract and general election voting in. The Union is very grateful that a member is willing to provide their motor home and then spend the whole day on site. In fact, in the fall of 2004 election voting, I was extremely grateful to Retiree George May for his motor home because I had actually arranged for a tent to be put up for the election voting, but again a storm had been forecast, I was advised the night before elections that it was not safe to put the tent up and had to come up with an alternative at the last minute, and George May came thru for the Union. Yes the motor home is very nice and most important very warm. However, with the motor home we have accessibility problems and some members can not climb the stairs to get in to vote and that is why I have arranged for a tent during my term as Recording Secretary and Chair of the Election/Voting committee. Unfortunately due to the time of the year when we usually hold our voting the weather is usually uncooperative.

     On Thursday, October 27, 2005 we held the second vote for the contract on a transit bus that Pierce Transit provided and I was appreciative that Vice President Human Resources & Labor Relations Marnie Slakey is willing to work with the Union and arrange the bus. The bus was very easy to hold voting in, it was accessible and most important it was warm.

     As always, I am extremely grateful to the Retiree members who help us out during voting. Walt Waisath, Chuck Krilich, George May, Lynne Proctor and Tom Knust were there this time around. I also want to thank member/Operator Rita Welch who came out on her own time both days to relieve me so that I could take a break and Financial Secretary/Service Supervisor Don McKnight who also came out to give me a break. On both days, Vice President Lane Chase was on hand all day to help with members questions on the contract and to assist me in the counting of the votes with members John Hoheusle, Janice Nugent, Richard Ross, Kevin St. Germaine and Kevin Greinke. International Vice President Don Hansen was also present both days for the count.

     I also want to thank the GORILLA, who actually reminded the members to vote. Apparently the majority of the members are not bananas and thought it was important to vote for this contract.

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     Voter Education: During this last voting period for the contract in counting the votes, I had to disqualify some of the ballots/votes due to markings on the ballots other than a check mark or an X by yes or no (common practice in Federal, State and County voting). Although these votes that I disqualified would not of changed the count of the vote, what if it had and your vote was disqualified due to you marking the ballot wrong or writing unwelcome comments. The first vote on October 14, 2005, I disqualified 13 ballots and on the second vote on October 27, 2005, I disqualified 12 ballots. Please, in the future do not mark anything on the ballot other then a check mark or an X by yes or no. If you do make a mistake, it is possible to void that ballot and provide you with another, just ask. Thank you.

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