SUNDAY March 11, 2012

POTLUCK LUNCH STARTS 1:30

MAKE YOUR FAVORITE DISH OR GOODIES TO SHARE

2:00 P.M. AMERICAN LEGION POST 149

4922 KITSAP WAY,  BREMERTON

AGENDA

• NEGOTIATION NEWS

• HEALTH BENEFIT NEWS

things may change drastically, and rapidly.  if something looks wrong, or wont work properly try refreashing.  although since this area is still under construction it may stay broken till the solution can be figured out.

SUNDAY February 12, 2012

2:00 P.M. AMERICAN LEGION POST 149

4922 KITSAP WAY,  BREMERTON

POTLUCK LUNCH STARTS 1:30

MAKE YOUR FAVORITE DISH OR GOODIES TO SHARE

AGENDA

• NEGOTIATION NEWS

• HEALTH BENEFIT NEWS

Do Not Let This  Go Unchallenged! It’s Money you are owed by the employer.

The highlights include:

1. Our comparables are Intercity Transit (Olympia), C-Tran (Vancouver), Whatcom (Bellingham) all of which were agreed to by the parties. The dispute was the Union wanted to include Pierce and Community (Snohomish County) but the Employer wanted Ben Franklin (Tri-Cities). He awarded a split decision by allowing the Union’s request to include Community Transit and allowed the Employers request to include Ben Franklin.

2. Wages: The employer argued for 2% in 2008 and 1% in 2009 with no retro to all of the employees since retired, layed off, etc. The Union Argued for 4.566% in 2008 (CPI), and 4% in 2009 for all effected operators. The Arbitrator split the difference and issued 3.5% in 2008, 2.5% in 2009, but also recognized the disparity of wages for ACCESS and awarded ACCESS operators an additional 1.5% for 2010. Retroactive pay will be for all operators including those who worked at all during the period. The employer argued that the individual and group bonus should be considered wage. The Arbitrator awarded a split decision allowing the average group bonus to be considered wage as most employees receive it, however he did not agree with management that the individual bonus should be counted as wage.

3. The Union had asked to achieve top step of pay by 5 years instead of the current 7 years. The arbitrator noted this as a significant difference which should be recognized in the wage comparisons, but did not award it at this time (due to the economic conditions).

4. The arbitrator turned down the employer’s request to have discipline remain longer in your file.

5. The arbitrator did not award Union requested changes to leave, or the the Board positions/proportions or definitions.
There were other changes that the Employer and Union agreed to prior and during the hearing which will be included in the new contract including expansion of time frames in the grievance timeframes, and any medical absence is allowed up to 12 months, no longer a discretionary decision. We will cover all the details at the next Union meeting.

Now onto our next contract……

Sincerely,

Rita C. DiIenno, President/Business Agent
Amalgamated Transit Union #1384
1700 SE Mile Hill Drive, Ste 213
Port Orchard, Wa 98366
360-895-1384
Cell 360.710.9077

“I just received a call from our partisan arbitrator. Both sides gave feedback on the draft award and the Neutral Arbitrator has arranged a meeting with the partisan arbitrators for January 11, 2011. The final will not be issued before that date.”

Sincerely,
…
Rita C. DiIenno, President/Business Agent
Amalgamated Transit Union #1384
1700 SE Mile Hill Drive, Ste 213
Port Orchard, Wa 98366
360-895-1384
Cell 360.710.9077

DATE: November 18, 2010
To: All ATU Employees
FROM: (Not Jeff Cartwright, Human Resources Director)
REVISED BY: Rita C DiIenno, President/Business Agent ATU #1384
SUBJECT: Health Insurance Update The True Story

As many of you may have heard, Jeff Cartwright (JC) began planning since March of 2010 to move our members from the Premera PPO to the Group Health plan. He did so in secret, without any notice to the ATU until the last week of October. It wasn’t until November 5th that we learned Premera dropped their offer to KT because of JC’s actions.

Because of his actions (unilateral and without negotiating) Premera, who had bid the plan for 2011, dropped their offer and subsequently the employer has failed to find any other insurance that will pick up the PPO on JC terms. As late as today JC could have withdrawn his actions that caused Premera and the others not to provide coverage. He has refused to do so. This is a violation of your rights under the terms of our contract and past practice, not to mention state law. He acknowledges the requirement to provide the same level of benefits, but to date has refused. We demanded to maintain the status quo, and bargain in good faith any changes. Any change is not legal until we reach agreement or have an arbitrator settle the question. Of course the employer is able to self insure, but so far has refused to do so.

I attended the Kitsap Transit Board Meeting to put them on notice and to advise that if they allow this, it could cost them far more in the end, if they don’t return to the status quo until a negotiated settlement is reached.

Despite the claim JC has worked diligently, Mark Dawson and I have met twice with him on our demand to bargain, and he has rejected multiple viable options that would have provided us with the same level of benefits. By his actions he hopes to save approximately 3.1 million, and it appears may be up to 6.2 million in benefits and wants to offer you what appears to be less than 4% of that savings back to our members for the taking of medical benefits. The offered incentive of approximately 4% of the three years saving, means they reap the benefit by their actions of approximately 96%, in their pocket. I would not call this an incentive, I would call it robbery. We won’t know the exact extent of the savings until the employer provides us with accurate data, since the initial cost saving was predicated on having Premera available to at least half of you who would have chosen to stay with the PPO.

The employer will not open enrollment to the ATU members until December 1, 2010. We will advise you before that date what if any settlement is reached. Likewise we will share with you our legal remedy by letter to your home before that date. If you have questions call me at 360-895-1384. In solidarity and protecting your rights!

Rather than flowers donations are being requested.
Donations can be dropped off at the church or at the memorial service on Sat/Nov.20