Parts of the Security Plus Bargaining Team met with parts of the State-DOC team on the afternoon of April 14 for several institution local working condition negotiations and then both entire teams met on April 15 and 16 for contract negotiations on open articles.  Shortly afterwards, parts of the Security Bargaining Team met with some of the State-DOC Team on April 20 and then both entire teams met on April 21 and 22.

Chief on everyone’s minds naturally involves economic subjects but despite the anxiety folks will have to endure a bit more patience.  It is normal for negotiations to delay discussing financial subjects in any great detail until the May revenue forecast is released which the legislature uses to help determine Agency budgets and the State of Oregon uses to try and solidify its bargaining position.

As most of you have heard by now, the Governor directed the State DAS negotiators to present the same outrageous financial offer to all state bargaining units. That initial proposal was draconian and universally opposed as excessive by placing to high a burden on Public Employees to help balance a faltering economy and state budget. 

Stay tuned as those aspects take a higher priority in the coming months. AFSCME and your team members are taking a slow and deliberative approach to negotiations… demanding that the state prove or justify its positions while we also try and protect the membership as much as possible from any unreasonable harm. On a national level AFSCME was directly involved and instrumental in the Federal Relief recently provided to State & Local Government to help protect and preserve your jobs.  On a State level, your leaders and our staff are also pursuing all viable alternatives including reasonable revenue enhancements to broaden the burden off your backs.  Several of us will be joining with leaders of the AFSCME Central Table team (Made up of other AFSCME represented state employees outside of Corrections) on May 26 for a lobby day to encourage the Legislature to raise revenue and protect the services that we provide.