| Impasse Declared in Non-Security Labor N |
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September 10, 1999
Contract negotiations between the Department of Corrections and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) non-security unit broke down and the union declared an impasse today. The union represents approximately 720 non-security staff members of the department including food service and plant maintenance workers, nurses, counselors, and secretarial and administrative support positions located throughout the state.
Talks stalled primarily over salary increase demands by the union. AFSCME proposed a wage increase of more than eleven percent over the next two years. The department's economic proposal included a two percent increase October 1, 1999, and a two percent increase January 1, 2001, as well as $38.00 added on to each pay step effective June 1, 2001. Additionally, the state agreed to contribute $531 a month for family insurance coverage.
The salary increase of more than five percent over the biennium is consistent with that offered and accepted by other state employees, including recent settlements with Oregon Public Employees Union (OPEU) and other AFSCME-represented state agencies. The department's non-security personnel currently earn approximately ten percent more than do their counterparts in other areas of state government; this varies, depending upon class and salary range. Employees in this bargaining unit are also eligible for the same enhanced retirement benefits as are police and firefighters.
Since a formal impasse has been declared, both sides must submit final offers, which include the cost of funding the proposals, to the Employment Relations Board within seven days. Upon receipt, the final proposals become public and a 30-day cooling off period begins. A ten-day notice of intent to strike, which may run concurrently with the last ten days of the cooling off period, is required before a strike can be called. At this point, the earliest a strike could occur is mid-October.
Other issues discussed during the negotiations include the union's desire that non-security personnel receive more security-related training. The department considers this to be a training issue and not appropriate for inclusion in the union contract. Although the department operates some of the safest and most secure institutions in the nation, all institutions currently are reviewing job expectations of non-security staff for long-term classification and on-going training needs. In addition, the Joint Statewide Labor/Management Committee is currently working on recommendations for the department's Year 2000 in-service training program.
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last revision 2-22-2000 peg cook
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