Post by CC on Dec 10, 2009 21:57:58 GMT -5
Arbitration next step for state, officers
State negotiators and unionized corrections officers have filed final contract offers with the Oregon Employment Relations Board that contain major differences on unpaid furloughs, vacation time and other issues.
Both parties now must agree on an arbitrator who will hear arguments and then choose the contract that will hold through June 2011.
The 1,700-member Security Unit of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 75 voted down in October a tentative contract agreement its negotiators had reached with the state. The state declared a bargaining impasse shortly afterward.
Union members were dismayed by the state's offer, said Tim Woolery, the corrections coordinator for AFSCME Council 75. The Security Unit represents most of the Department of Corrections officers who guard Oregon's prison system.
"It's worse than what the members voted down," Woolery said.
The officers are forbidden by law from going on strike. Their contract now rests in the hands of the not-yet-chosen arbitrator.
State negotiators and unionized corrections officers have filed final contract offers with the Oregon Employment Relations Board that contain major differences on unpaid furloughs, vacation time and other issues.
Both parties now must agree on an arbitrator who will hear arguments and then choose the contract that will hold through June 2011.
The 1,700-member Security Unit of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 75 voted down in October a tentative contract agreement its negotiators had reached with the state. The state declared a bargaining impasse shortly afterward.
Union members were dismayed by the state's offer, said Tim Woolery, the corrections coordinator for AFSCME Council 75. The Security Unit represents most of the Department of Corrections officers who guard Oregon's prison system.
"It's worse than what the members voted down," Woolery said.
The officers are forbidden by law from going on strike. Their contract now rests in the hands of the not-yet-chosen arbitrator.