Bargaining Update #3: We want better health and safety. Management wants cuts.

On September 17, 2024, our bargaining team met with management to discuss proposals that focus on improving health and safety in our workplace. Our proposals aim to give us:

• A stronger voice on safety issues

• Enhance health benefits and paid time off, 

• Maintain our certifications and licenses,

• Improve scheduling for 24/7 operations. 

We believe these changes are necessary to address the high turnover rate of 47.37% since 2020. Had our health insurance proposal already been in place, members would have saved an average of $2,909 in healthcare costs this year.

Rich Sanchez, who helped present our case, shared:

“I am glad I was there to help present our solutions for recruitment and retention.”

In response, Management has proposed the following:

• Restricting our rights to bargain over leave policies,

• Weakening the Health and Safety Committee,

• Reducing break times “to simplify payroll,”

• Changing due process, which assumes guilt until proven innocent,

• Weakening our union’s protections if Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, loses its DOE contract.

Additionally, Management refuses to compensate the bargaining team for attending these sessions, even though their team is paid to be there after hours. Despite this, we remain committed to showing up in good faith, though their expectation that we take a pay cut to negotiate is unreasonable.

Next Steps: On October 1, 2024, we will present our economic proposals. All members are encouraged to attend, and you’re welcome to bring your families. Bargaining will begin at 5 pm at 7575 Southfront Street, Livermore. Please RSVP here.

Here is the list of proposals we will present on October 1, 2024. Again, you can read all of our proposals and theirs here.

• Wages

• Ancillary Pay

• Overtime

• Retirement Income Plans

• Davis Bacon

• Reclassifications

• Duration

Thank you for your continued solidarity and support.