MONDAY -- The Washington State Labor Education and Research Center presents "Reducing Airborne Disease Threats: Tools for Workers" online training from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 13. Which masks are the safest? Who is responsible for providing them? What are the laws that cover this? Get answers by registering for this Zoom event.
Register here. WPEA would like to wish everyone a safe and wonderful holiday season! WPEA will be closed from December 24th through January 2nd. If you do need emergency help a rep will be available by calling the main line at 360-943-1121.
The Washington Supreme Court decided today to accept the work that had been done by the Washington State Redistricting Commission. This means that the Commission will be able to take advantage of the work and time they had already invested and to make permanent the new district maps that the Commission had voted upon, approved, and posted for the public to review. To learn more, access the links below.
Washington Supreme Court Decision on Redistricting Commission’s Letter Website (and Maps) for the Washington State Redistricting Commission Originally posted 10/4/2021 on previous WPEA website.
After 18 months of what feels like a never ending calendar of negative news, restrictions, and take-aways that culminated in radically altered work environments and furloughs, I am thrilled to report positive news of growth and financial benefit for our membership! At the same time that your member/steward/staff teams were working on the terms for the Vaccination MOUs, they were also negotiating to increase wages for our GG and HE membership and those terms were also solidified at the last possible minute on Friday. The MOUs for these wage increases are below so that you can read in detail how the terms will impact you personally but the two major items to note are these:
No one needs me to generate excitement over this one, it is the kind of news we have all needed for some time! It is also greatly needed as a reminder of how truly valuable you all are. Public employees give so much to their communities through their service, and fair compensation is an integral part of an employer acknowledging that value. WPEA is an amazing labor union because it is made up of amazing members. You guys are the best and we thank you all for what you do! Dana Spain President, WPEA General Government Wage Increase MOU Higher Education Wage Increase MOU Highline Wage Increase MOU *Yakima members have CBA language that ensure identical benefits to the Higher Education MOU. Read the HE MOU for exact terms. Union members: If you and your family are experiencing hardship as a result of recent flooding in northwest Washington or some other natural disaster in Washington state, the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO urges you to apply for disaster relief from the Foundation for Working Families.
The FFWF is a nonprofit formed by the WSLC and its affiliated unions to assist union families in times of hardship or disaster. To apply for disaster relief, fill out and return this form. Teamsters Local 174: Despite the cold, wet, windy Seattle weather, 34 dump truck drivers are still on an Unfair Labor Practice strike at Gary Merlino Construction. The workers are part of a larger group of construction Teamsters all covered by the Associated General Contractors Agreement, which is jointly negotiated to cover nearly 500 Teamsters at six different Teamster Local Unions. The only Employer refusing to agree to the terms of the joint agreement is Gary Merlino Construction, with Merlino subordinate Charlie Oliver in charge of the contract negotiations. Said one striking employee:
“I’m just so disappointed with this whole situation, after almost 25 years working for Gary Merlino. We’ve helped build his house, for God’s sake, and he’s still letting his lackey shove us all out in the cold wind during Christmas because of what, pride? It makes me more sad than anything else.” Orginally from The Stand (Nov. 29) — Gary Merlino drivers’ ULP strike continues From The Stand: Click Here for Link
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — On October 5, some 1,400 members of the BCTGM International Union at Kellogg’s cereal plants in Battle Creek, Mich., Omaha, Neb., Lancaster, Pa. and Memphis, Tenn. took a stand on the future of their workforce by going on strike. In contract negotiations, the company had proposed to take away premium health care benefits, retirement benefits, holiday and vacation pay, cost-of-living wage increases, and jobs by moving production lines to Mexico. Management also proposed a new two-tier system where new hires make less money, have higher health insurance payments and will not earn a pension. They had even proposed to remove the Union Label from all Kellogg’s cereal boxes! For nearly 8 weeks, Kellogg’s workers have stood strong on the picket line, demanding a fair contract offer. Let’s show these brave Kellogg’s workers that organized labor throughout the country has their backs! Here’s how you can support them. ► From the Michigan Advance — Kellogg talks to resume Tuesday as union strike nears 8 weeks — Negotiations between union workers and cereal giant Kellogg are set to restart this week, as workers at the company’s four cereal plants near two months of striking for better wages, better hours and the end of a two-tier pay scale. Prior to the day before Thanksgiving, talks had come to a standstill between the two parties. Originally Posted 11/8/2021 on previous WPEA Website
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released an Emergency Temporary Standard requiring employers with 100 or more employees to adopt COVID vaccination policies by January 4, 2022. Covered employers must require that employees be vaccinated or be tested weekly for COVID. This rule will affect WPEA members at the Fort Vancouver Regional Library and the Kitsap Regional Library. All other WPEA members are already covered by existing mandates. Here are the details:
Originally Posted 10/18/2021 on previous WPEA Website
A Thurston County judge has issued a ruling Monday that will allow Governor Inslee’s vaccine mandate to stay in place. Judge Carol Murphy denied plaintiffs’ request for an injunction staying Inslee’s proclamation 21-14 (the vaccine mandate for state employees, educators, & health care workers). Judge Murphy’s ruling was not on the merits of the case, but merely means that the mandate stays in effect while the case is being heard. |
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