Just as a reminder for those who may have gone into shock over this deal. This does not stop the layofffs!!! They are still in the works. There will be more coming as the budget outlook deteriorates over the next quarter.

There's a quick analysis of why furlough days won't save jobs you might want to check out.

Just a quick note that the details given by our Central Table Bargaining Team does not exactly match what has been reported by, say, the Statesman Journal. With the lack of bargaining and good faith shown so far, I'll stick with the even bleaker picture presented over the phone last night.

The following is what went out this morning in e-mail to members:

As we anticipated after the Governor's announcement rolling back managers' raises last week, we are no longer on a course for an early settlement.

Our last proposal two weeks ago was a good-faith attempt to step to the plate and share the sacrifice needed to close the state's enormous budget shortfall.

Our bargaining team is profoundly outraged and disappointed that, instead of accepting our proposal, the Governor has responded with a demand for deeper and unreasonable cuts.

The state's counterproposal amounts to a 4.6% annual pay cut. The proposal includes:

• 26 furlough days for ALL members:
  • No holiday pay on 15 paid holidays
  • 11 furlough days on prescribed days, including two this biennium (resulting in more furlough days than some managers in this biennium)s
• Elimination of the 10th step
• Full step freeze
• All economic terms, including health care, would be in jeopardy through a re-opener that could be initiated by either party

What's next?

We need to share our outrage with the state. As we said in our press conference two weeks ago, in the worst economic crisis of our lifetime there is a need for shared sacrifice. But cuts this deep are neither balanced nor fair. They put our ability to deliver quality services at risk. That's why this Thursday we are organizing a statewide action to show the State just how outrageous we feel this proposal is.

At noon, where possible, and at alternate times where necessary, we are organizing delegations to the highest level managers in our worksites to tell them what we think of this proposal and asking them to relay our thoughts to their Director or Agency head. If your manager is not on site, then please organize a group to call her or him via speakerphone to deliver the message.

Secondly, we will be emailing Agency heads (on our breaks and lunches) with the same message – just in case it doesn't make its way there!

Talk to your union steward or organizer to get the details on the action in your workplace.

Our next bargaining is scheduled for Monday 3/9 & 10.

A legislative panel met today. They've eased some cuts, but obviously can't eliminate much. I did pick up on this cheery comment:

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, has said the projected 2009-11 gap between income and services — now at $3 billion — could grow to $5 billion before Oregon’s economy turns around and produces more in tax collections and lottery proceeds.

OK, I lied. It wasn't cheery. So elect me Governor.

There's some additional information available from today's actions regarding the current proposal. Apparently there is something in writing.

• Leave accrual is protected. We won't lose vacation, sick leave, etc. because of the unpaid furlough days.
• In any month with more than one holiday, only one will be taken as an unpaid furlough day.

This still leaves us completely vulnerable to taht second year re-opener. All of this could change when, not if, management calls for it.

And none of this addresses our lowest paid members. There's no tiered cuts in the proposal. Management cuts for this biennium have a tiered system. This means that some managers will have less furlough time than their staff.

It would be interesting to hear how the various actions went today. The one I attended was not attended nearly as well as I would have liked. We also weren't able to speak with the Agency Director. We were well received by the Chief Administrative Officer. I hope that he does pass our message on to the Director.

What message? Ask the Governor to come back to the table and bargain in good faith!

This is one of the best Union Blogs I have run across. If you are a Union member I would be willing to bet that your paid SEIU staff does not hold you in high regard. I run a blog myself and I hope I can serve my brothers and sisters as well as you serve yours. Your site is serving your members in the best way,you are giving them information. Members must then make up their own minds on how to proceed, activist, or apathy. In Maine we are bargaining and like 503 Human Resources just hired one of our most experienced field reps, one who knows some of our plans for this year. In Maine we get nearly nothing out of our bargaining team, and I am one of them. The teams are encouraged by staff to keep everything close to the chest until TAs have been signed. Another reason is that out of ten thousand members we are lucky to get 30 to 50 members interested in being on a committee. Your post on the HR raid on staff inspired a very similar one of my own that I will be running shortly. Thanks for the inspiration although the feeling of Deja Vu was creepy. Our health has always been 100% for the employee and 60% for the family. The legislature wants to raise that by $1000.00 a year. Health care is under assault, and our HR department has not yet dropped the bombs many of us expect to see. The parallels between 503 and 1989 are shocking. The EFCA may pass this summer and until then you can be certain that every force against labor will be trying to take everything they can get. In Maine the Republicans are rabidly against "revenue increases" which they call taxes, yet they want to cut State employee health care, stop raises, give furloughs, and lay offs. No one will be surprised to see them offer furlough days. We would trade furloughs for saving jobs or benefits but they want the furloughs and the cuts. They want US to share the sacrifice, yet the bills that would have State Employees pay more for their health are exempt our legislature.
In Solidarity
Thomas Maher (NarsBars)