This morning, an e-mail went out from SEIU International, the parent organization for SEIU Local 503, to members across the country, including Oregon. The e-mail was adressed from Andy Stern, President of SEIU. It pointed the recipients to a video posted on YouTube.  read more »

Message for you sir!

We have a message for you Governor Kulongoski! We're as mad as hell, and we're not going to take it any more!

We all realize that times are bad. Really bad. We know you're in a tough spot. We get it! But you just can't fix this problem by putting the burden on the public employees. The numbers just don't add up.  read more »

Breaking News!!!

I'm sure many of you will be hearing this soon. I just got off a call regarding the latest bargaining update. Management has come back with a so-called proposal:  read more »

The announcement this morning is disheartening at best. The expected deficit for the rest of this biennium is up to $855 Million. For the 2009-11 biennium, it rose to nearly $3 Billion.

Since no one thinks we have hit bottom yet, imagine what the numbers will look like in May. It's staggering.

This morning Governor Kulongoski announced several steps he is taking to reduce our burgeoning budget deficit. Prior to the public announcement, this information was communicated to executive management, presumably statewide.

For those who haven't heard, here's a brief rundown of the cuts:  read more »

The Oregon budget committee revealed their proposed budget cuts today.

Their proposal has to deal with a shortfall of $800 Million to make up by June 30^th, 2009. Part of the money is coming from the Federal Aid package of $330 Million. Another $125 Million is coming from "other state accounts." Exactly which accounts that is, isn't clear from the reports seen.  read more »

SEIU has offered up the Governor's recommended furlough days to try and jump-start bargaining. While it hasn't worked yet, the mere fact of the furlough days represents a pay cut. If we are faced with a pay cut, don't we have at least two options? How do you prefer to get the fuzzy end of the lollipop?

EDIT: Fixed the percentages to represent that the pay cut is 1.5(38)% for two years.