Bargaining Info

FROM THE TABLE – December 21, 2010

 

From Mike Senn,  Council #1 President

 

Dear Council #1 members,

 

Our Bargaining Committee has bargained in good faith over the past 15 months to come to a tentative agreement with the state.  When our bargaining committee met initially with the state in January 2009, the state pointed out that due to the economic situation, there would not be any raises.  The Bargaining Committee began to deal with the furlough issue at that time.  Our Bargaining Team knew the financial constraints the state faced.  We agreed to meet the difficulty head on.    

 

The Bargaining Committee kept these factors in mind as we bargained in good faith with the state during negotiations. You, the members of Council #1, ratified the tentatively agreed upon contract last month.  We were not the only union that agreed to contracts last month.   Other Unions also ratified their contracts after negotiating in good faith.   Sixteen other union representing state employees negotiated their contracts in good faith, and ratified those contracts.

 

Currently all state employees face the views published in many of the media venues.  We are portrayed as being unreasonable in our contract even though we have made significant concessions over the past fifteen months.  The reality is you have made concessions in the contract you ratified. It is and was a fair and equitable contract.

 

We have done our part.  We met in good faith.  We have made concessions.  One of our members at my work site pointed that she is taking home less pay now than she did six years ago.  Many of us can tell the same story.

 

It seems that every time when I open up a newspaper, there are editorials mentioning how unreasonable state employees and unions are.  It surprises me how many citizens have forgotten that state employees are also citizens.  We pay taxes.  We have faced the same economic challenges that everyone else has faced.  Our neighbors and our community have forgotten that we, state employees, are also members of the community that face the same challenges that everyone else faces.  I need you to speak up for yourself in your own community.  Your neighbors may not know me, or others.  They need to hear it from you.  You need to tell them the facts.  We have had eight furlough days a year.  We have made concessions. 

 

I am also hoping that you will take to heart the new media campaign that was launched by WEAC this fall during American Education Week.  You may have seen commercials, or print ads, or newsletter articles about it. It is a new way to put a face on who the union is – we’re everyday people, oftentimes everyday heroes.  Every chance we get, we need to remind others of that important face. Yes, that includes our incoming governor and Legislature, too. If you’re willing to talk to legislators and the public about who you are and what you do in the coming months, please send me an e-mail from your home address. I’ll help you find a way to get connected.

 

The citizens of Wisconsin need to hear that not only are you a state employee, but that you are also a neighbor and involved in your community.  Your community needs to hear what you do.

 

 I want you to know that I worked hard with all the other state employee unions to call on the governor and Legislature to give our contracts a fair shake. I am deeply disappointed that politics, instead of fairness, prevailed. We’ll brace ourselves for what’s to come, and bargain in good faith – hoping that everyone at the table will do the same. 

 

Please take the time to view the following links from home. 

 

If you would like to take action and speak your mind from home, click here to access AFSCME’s webpage to tell Decker & Plale what  you think.

   

Here are headlines from last week:

 

Public workers call on lawmakers to settle overdue contracts (WEAC)

Union workers rally for a contract (Wisconsin Radio Network)
Contracts for state employees remain in limbo (Wisconsin State Journal)
State workers rally to get contract approved (Associated Press)

 

 

Mike Senn

 

Michael J. Senn

President of Council #1 - SPEIC/WEAC

ABE Teacher

Redgranite Correctional institution

920 566 - 2600  ext. 2502

 

 

FROM THE TABLE – December 17, 2010

 

Dear SPEIC/Council 1 Members,

 

As you all likely know, the legislature met yesterday evening to consider the tentative agreements for several state employee groups, including the SPEIC/Council # 1 2009-2011 contract.  Unfortunately, the Senate failed to approve the contracts.

 

There is a great deal of uncertainty as to the exact next steps the incoming administration will take related to the state employee contracts.  As the situation around our bargain develops over the next days and months, we will do our best to share updates regarding status and any other meaningful changes.

 

We will work to solidify the best contract settlement possible with the new administration.  We will participate in the collective bargaining process in good faith.  We will continue to make ongoing assessments of opportunities and options available to us given whatever circumstances arise.

 

We anticipate some challenges; but, we have faced challenges before and emerged better and stronger.  Through solidarity amongst the members of our union and with our brothers and sisters in other state unions, we will emerge from any future challenges, as well.  Please stay engaged in our union’s work and supportive of each other.  Your individual contributions to our collaborative and collective efforts to accomplish what we believe in are very important.

 

Thank you.

 

In solidarity,

Ray Decker, Bargaining Spokesperson

 

 

FROM THE TABLE – November 17, 2010

Your Council #1 Bargaining Team has reached a tentative agreement on the 2009-2011 collective bargaining agreement. Council #1 enrolled members will be receiving a ratification mailing with the new contract language including a ballot, which must be received by Council #1 NO LATER than November 29, 2010.  Fair share members will be receiving an advisory ballot.

 

In addition in your mailing you will receive a ratification letter and the new contract language which is underlined.  You can access a copy of current collective bargaining agreement (contract) at the Council #1 web page: www.council1.org

 

Your Bargaining Team members are:

Sherman Banker – Wisconsin Historical Society – 608-264-6507

Ray Decker, Chief Spokesperson– Lincoln Hills School – 715-536-8386

Jean Grossman – Columbia Correctional – 608-742-9100

Brad Hentges – Green Bay Correctional – 920-432-4877

Courtney Jenkins-Department of Public Instruction-608-367-9157

Tony King-Wisconsin School for Blind /Visually Impaired-608-758-6119

Michael Senn-Redgranite Correctional-920-566-2502

Courtney Spitz-Department of Public Instruction-608-264-9339

 

Ray Decker

Chairperson, Council #1 Bargaining Team

 

FROM THE TABLE – November 11, 2010

 

 

We continue to make progress at the bargaining table. The next scheduled bargaining sessions are scheduled for November 16 & 17.

 

Stay tuned.

 

Ray Decker

Chief Spokesperson

Council #1 Bargaining Team

 

 

Your Bargaining Team members are:

Sherman Banker – Wisconsin Historical Society – 608-264-6507

Ray Decker, Chief Spokesperson– Lincoln Hills School – 715-536-8386

Jean Grossman – Columbia Correctional – 608-742-9100

Brad Hentges – Green Bay Correctional – 920-432-4877

Courtney Jenkins-Department of Public Instruction-608-367-9157

Tony King-Wisconsin School for Blind /Visually Impaired-608-758-6119

Michael Senn-Redgranite Correctional-920-566-2502

Courtney Spitz-Department of Public Instruction-608-264-9339

 

FROM THE TABLE - August 25, 2010

August 25, 2010

We met with the employer’s team yesterday. The employer’s chief spokesperson, Jill Thomas, announced her retirement effective September 17th. We wish Jill good luck. The new chief spokesperson for management will be Paege Heckel. Paege has worked for the SEIU 1199 heath care workers union, DOC and now for OSER. The parties reviewed the language proposals where there has been agreement. The employer did not agree to any more of our language proposals. We still have many language proposals on the table and we hope there will be progress made in subsequent sessions. No compensation related proposals have been put on the table by either party. For those of you who do not already know, this week is my last as Director of Council #1. I will be retiring. I want to thank all who have supported this organization and especially those who took the time to volunteer their time to represent their fellow members. It has been a great honor to represent all of you and I wish you the best. During the interim time between Michael Moore's retirement and the hiring of a new Executive Director at the Council #1 office, Council #1 members and worksite leaders should contact any one of the following people to get question answered or obtain advice: Michael Senn (President) phone: (920) 566-2600 ext 2502 e-mail: Michael.Senn@wisconsin.gov Mary Joas (Vice President) phone: (262) 646-3341 ext.517 e-mail: Mary.Joas@wisconsin.gov Ray Decker (Caucus II Rep) phone: (715) 536-8386 e-mail: Raymond.Decker@wisconsin.gov Jean Grossman (Bargaining Committee member) phone: (608) 742-9100 e-mail: Jean.Grossman@wisconsin.gov These 4 individuals will answer your questions or direct you to the appropriate source of information. Thank you for your cooperation with this change during the transition to a new Executive Director. This will be our mode of operation until the new person is on board, hopefully early next year. Diane Farris will still be in the office for a few more months prior to her retirement.

FROM THE TABLE - July 28, 2010

July 28, 2010

We met with the employer’s team on Monday July 26th. The meeting was not very productive although the employer did agree to several more of our proposals. We have another meeting scheduled for August 24th and we hope that that bargaining session yields better results. We will report to you following the meeting in August.

FROM THE TABLE - July 12, 2010

July 12, 2010

We have waited over 2 months to hear from the employer regarding another date for negotiations. We have, however, met, informally, with the employer’s representative to discuss and prioritize language items that may be part of a final package. We think these discussions may lead to a positive result but we will wait and see. The employer, thus far, has not proposed any changes to the contract. We will keep you posted.

FROM THE TABLE - May 7, 2010

May 7, 2010

We met with the employer’s team yesterday. As mentioned before, we have submitted 59 language proposals which range from simple date changes to substantive changes in transfer, discipline and other areas of the contract. The employer agreed to several of our proposals primarily regarding the disciplinary process and several other items. They offered no language proposals of their own but reserved the right to do so at a later date. We briefly discussed timelines for submitting compensation packages and asked the employer for future dates for negotiations. As always, we will keep you posted.

FROM THE TABLE - February 13, 2010

February 13, 2010

We met with the employer’s team yesterday. They offered no counter proposals to the language items we put forth last month. They did seek clarification on each of our proposals. So, we went through each one and provided an explanation. They are supposed to get back to us with dates for another meeting. We will keep you posted.

FROM THE TABLE - January 13, 2010

January 13, 2010

Yesterday, your bargaining team met to give the employer our initial language proposals for the 09-11 contract. The proposals covered many areas including transfer, errors in pay, discipline, and layoff. These were not compensation proposals. Those will be offered at a later time. We are awaiting possible dates for future bargaining sessions from the employer’s team. We will keep you posted.

Your bargaining team:

  • Ray Decker (chair)
  • Lincoln Hills School
  • Sherman Banker
  • State Historical Society
  • Mike Senn (President, Council #1)
  • Redgranite Correctional
  • Courtney Reed-Jenkins
  • DPI
  • Brad Hentges
  • Green Bay Correctional
  • Courtney Spitz
  • DPI
  • Tony King
  • Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  • Jean Grossman
  • Columbia Correctional
  • Mike Moore and Diane Farris
  • Council #1
  • Bob West
  • Consultant

View the Council #1 Bargaining Committee 2007 - 2009