WSDOT Engineering Supervisors Seek Local 17 Representation
A core group of WSDOT engineering supervisors has recently
approached Local 17 to begin discussions regarding union
representation. They have spearheaded an organizing
drive focusing on employees in the following classes:
Transportation Engineer 4-5; Technical Transportation
Engineer 5, Supervising Engineer, Planning Specialist
4-5, and Planning Supervisor classes.
These employees have come to realize the benefits of
union representation, noting that most employees in
these classes are former Local 17 members who have progressed
to the upper levels of these positions through promotion.
The benefits of union membership have been spotlighted
once again through gains achieved through the latest
round of collective bargaining negotiations.
Currently, on the outside of union membership and looking
in towards Local 17, the supervisors noted that salary
increases for Local 17 members have become effective
a full two months earlier then they do for non-represented
state employees. This includes both COLAs and salary
survey adjustments. The salary delay for non-represented
employees has occurred in every year in the past three
years since unions won the right to bargain wages for
their members. This time lag for pay increases is a
trend that does not appear as though it will go away
anytime soon.
Non-represented employees were also left on the outside
this year regarding the lump-sum payment negotiated
by labor unions regarding state medical plan issues.
The lump-sum payout for each union member totaled more
than the total cost of a members' annual union dues.
Union membership pays!
Also of interest for non-represented supervisors are
issues barring them from overtime / compensatory time
no matter how many hours they work in a week. Non-represented
employees also seek the same rights to representation
in personnel matters and actions; the right as a group
to discuss issues directly with agency management and,
as important as all others - the right to bargain directly
with their employer those issues regarding their wages,
benefits, and working conditions.
These employees have expressed an interest in becoming
represented in time for the next round of bargaining
slated to begin this coming spring. The organizing process
requires a showing of interest by individual employees
(sign a card today!) to be followed by a secret-ballot
election of all WSDOT employees in these classifications
to determine union association.
Contact Local 17 Union Representative Vince
Oliveri for more information and to get an organizing
card: 800-328-0017 ext. 108.
Read
more about why you should join Local 17.
