For King County IT Members

Contact Local 17 Representatives: Behnaz Nelson
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JLMIT Meeting News

Read Minutes - 4-30-08
Read Minutes - 4-16-08

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS NEWS - Aug. '07 -

See Final Contract (PDF)

King County Information Technology Ratifies Contract with 94% of the Votes!!

Behnaz Nelson
Union Representative
IFPTE Local 17
206-328-7321, Ext. 112

News

June 21 , 2007 - COLA Status, Bargaining Update

Local 17’s request for COLA to be implemented before the contract is ratified has been approved by the King County Council and signed Executive Sims. As for implementation, this is the info I received from the County ...

New rates will be applied to PS and MSA and will be seen on the MSA 7/20 paycheck and on the PS 7/26 paycheck. The retroactive payments will cover the periods of 1/1/07 to 6/30/07 for MSA and 1/1/07 to 6/29/07. The retroactive payments will be added to the 8/6 MSA paycheck and to the 8/9 PS paycheck.

If you have any specific questions, I encourage you to speak with your payroll contact.

Again, I can not stress enough that receiving COLA before the contract has been ratified is a deviation from standard procedure. Barring anything out of the ordinary, come next contract cycle COLA will not be implemented until the contract has been ratified (then it will be applied retroactively).

But for now, we have it early so enjoy it!

Bargaining Update

As I mentioned before, the Union and County bargaining teams are working with a facilitator from the King County Alternative Dispute Resolution Department to ensure that our time is put to good use and each side is participating fully and in good faith. The facilitator has been very effective in helping both teams flesh out what their needs are to address On Call.

We will be having a number of upcoming sessions to begin discussing an appropriate exchange for time spent on call, as well as hammering out the outstanding issues.

Your bargaining team remains committed to resolving these negotiations as expeditiously as possible, provided we come up with a contract that is fair and equitable to the employees of this bargaining unit.

Upcoming Bargaining Dates:
July 5, July 11, July 20

Interest-Based Bargaining Approach for Contract Negotiations

Contract negotiations have been moving at a painfully slow pace. It took the County almost 2 months to respond to Local 17’s information requests and some responses still remain outstanding. Local 17 comes to the table each week prepared with proposals and ready to bargain. Unfortunately the County has produced proposals mainly dealing with minor language changes and has not yet countered any of Local 17’s proposals.

To ensure a more productive, progressive approach to bargaining, Local 17 has requested to change from traditional bargaining (swapping proposals) to interest-based bargaining.

Interest-based bargaining is a process that enables all parties to become joint problem solvers. The process begins with identifying the interests driving the issues. Collaborative discussions will focus on individual and mutual interests as well as establishing objective criteria to evaluate those interests. While the process will most likely be lengthy and detail oriented, interest-based bargaining has been proven to be a highly effective process in achieving positive results at the bargaining table. “Local 17 embraces interest-based bargaining and will continue to come to the table ready, willing and able to fight for the rights of our members in the hopes of coming away with a contract well suited for their professionalism and dedication to the County", said Local 17 Union Representative Behnaz Nelson.

After having undergone joint training on Interest Based Bargaining (IBB), Local 17 and King County will be returning to the table mid-February. Big ticket items up for discussion will be on-call, training, alternate work schedule/telecommuting and Executive Leave. “The IBB training gave us valuable tools which we look forward to implementation at the table. Local 17 will confidently and accurately relay our interests in achieving a fair contract. We are excited to get back to the table, roll our sleeves up and tackle the big issues”, commented Behnaz Nelson.

Upcoming bargaining dates are:

February 20
March 1
March 15
March 29

Local 17 will propose additional dates in between to keep the process moving at a faster pace.

Check back for more updates!!

Behnaz Nelson
Local 17 Union Representative

2006 Contract Negotiations - Oct. '06

Contact negotiations for the 2007-2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement began mid-September 2006. Bargaining on behalf of Local 17 are: Behnaz Nelson, Les Adams, Chris Jansen, Jon Grissom and Sabra Schneider. Bargaining for the County are: Trish Murphy, Patti Cole-Tindall, Gary Lemanager, Ayele Dagne and Gary Hocking.

Negotiations got off to a slow start due to scheduling conflicts but will progress more quickly through October, November and December.

Thanks to the near 50% response on our contract survey, the members have provided the Policy Committee and Bargaining Team with key issues and interests to be addressed in negotiations. Some issues on the table include: On-Call; Executive Leave; Alternative Work Schedules, Telecommuting, Contracting Out and Training.

The Bargaining Team has been keeping the Policy Committee apprised of negotiation proceedings and the Policy Committee in turn has given strong guidance and recommendations pertaining to our contract. Most of our Local 17 Stewards have been participating in the policy committee meetings as well. If there is any further information you would like to provide or receive regarding the negotiations, please contact your steward.

Thanks and continue to check back for updates.

Behnaz Nelson
Local 17 Union Representative

New NETWORK ENGINEER - SENIOR Position Created
Ever since the Class Comp negotiations were finalized in September 2004, the Union has been vigorously advocating the need for a Network Engineer-Senior position to be created.

After much time, hard work and lengthy negotiations, I am happy to report the position was officially created on April 25, 2006 and has been posted for application as of today, May 10, 2006.

The Union was successful in limiting the position only to career service employees in the ITS Division. Additionally, we were able to negotiate retro pay and time credit toward probation, back to the date of April 25, 2006 for those members who are promoted. The County has also agreed to our request that they provide training sessions on completing the application process (resumes, cover letters, application questions, etc.) and provide a workshop on interviewing skills. There is no limit to the number of Network Engineer-Seniors. The County will promote all candidates who successfully complete the application and interview process. Good luck to all Network Engineers who apply!

Many thanks to the Network Engineers, our Shop Stewards and my fellow reps at Local 17 for their continued support, valuable input and perseverance in seeing that this position be created. Through continued member participation and solidarity, I look forward to many more successful accomplishments.

- Behnaz Nelson
Union Representative

IT Re-Org News

See the organization development consultant report (PDF)

JLMIT meeting summary - March '08

JMMIT Summary - Nov. '07

JLMIT meeting summary - Aug. '07

Read the Sept. '06 newsletter

Policy Committee Meeting Summaries

Leadership

BARGAINING TEAM
Les Adams: Retired
Chris Jansen: DNRP
Jon Grissom: DES-ITS
Sabra Schneider: DES-ITS

STEWARDS
Stewards are the front line of the union. Stewards know the workplace as well as anyone and are the conduit through which membership, union staff, and management communicate.

Stewards organize, communicate, interpret the contract and handle grievances. Being a Steward is an intensely rewarding experience.

CURRENT STEWARDS
Steve Ford – DAJD
Scott MacCready – DCHS
Eric Manson – DDES
Les Adams – Retired
Peg Taglianetti – DES-ITS
Jon Grissom – DES-ITS
Lisa Castle – DNRP-Parks
Floyd Suiter – DNRP-Parks
Reid Swick – DES-ITS

POLICY COMMITTEE
The Policy Committee is a representative body that functions as an action-oriented executive of all members. The PC stands between the membership as a whole and the Bargaining Committee, serving to educate and communicate to the members and to provide direction, guidance and feedback to the Bargaining Committee.

We will soon begin meeting regularly to discuss key items to bring to the Bargaining Committee.

POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Steve Ford – DAJD
Bruce Reed – DCHS
Mike Stewart – DCHS
Jean Darsie - DCHS
Scott MacCready - DCHS
Donna Lund – DDES
Eric Manson – DDES
Les Adams – Retired
Tim Hansen – DES-FBO
Peg Taglianetti – DES-ITS
Nancy Welch – DES-ITS
Sabra Schneider – DES-ITS
Roger Kaiser – DES-ITS
Benjamin Grossman - DES-ITS
Reid Swick - DES-ITS
Jon Grissom – DES-ITS
Lisa Castle – DNRP
Patrick Jankanish – DNRP
Chris Jansen – DNRP
Richard Meeks - DNRP

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING MEETINGS
(For more information on dates and times of these meetings, please contact Union Reprsentative, Behnaz Nelson)

(* Chapter meetings are great way to meet other Local 17 members working throughout King Co. Here we have oportunities to discuss current issues affecting us within our bargaining unit and throughout the County.)