| Business Agent Report August 2020
by Debi Humann
August 17, 2020
In an ongoing mission to keep my germs to myself, I have been working from home as much as possible through phone conference calls and zoom tele-conference meetings. As reported before, this is an interesting new “normal” in which we substitute “I can’t” with “we will”. We are doing our best to not only get through this by re-thinking “old” processes and practices but are also working hard to maintain a high level of member contact and a continued response on grievances, phone calls and problems.
Since the last update (May 2020), my shop stewards and I have:
- Voted a new Appendix A, as well as new layoff and bumping language at the City of Marysville. The new wages are the outcome of a long, hard fought wage study that resulted in some significant wage increases for many of the Marysville members.
- With seven (7) of my Collective Bargaining Agreements expiring on December 31, 2020, we have been working hard on surveys to determine what members want to accomplish in upcoming negotiations and in making Union Information Requests to gain data related to employer solvency and revenues in these difficult times. Also trying to figure out the best, and most safe way, to move forward in bargaining that gets the best deal for all members without compromising safety. With many of the Cities in financial bad straights, it is anticipated that negotiations will be particularly difficult this go-around.
- We continue to sign up new Teamsters members (new hires) and have not experienced a dip in membership even with the JANUS Decision and despite a global pandemic. It appears that members understand the power of belonging to a Union in these difficult times and that when we work together, we can all move forward.
- Voted several MOUs at City of Medina that defines and clarifies the use of seasonal employees. These MOUs protect Union work and prevent Union work from being “skimmed” or leaving the bargaining unit.
- Working through a variety of grievances and pending disciplinary actions at Snohomish County jail. The Union has a good track record for winning many of these issues because no one works harder than a Teamsters shop steward!
- We continue to work with employers, and support all Teamsters members, as we move forward in this shifting COVID-19 environment. Interpreting Federal and State laws and applying them to all classifications represented by Teamsters is a significant job in itself. I am so appreciative of the help and reporting of the many members I represent!
Thank you to all who are doing your part to help Washington State control this deadly virus and thank you to all who are working on the front lines whether you are a grocery worker, law enforcement, a PW / Parks employee, a Funeral Home employee, or any of the other Washingtonians who are doing what has to be done as safely as possible.
Stay Teamsters strong!
Debi Humann
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