Bargaining Update #5: Management *really* doesn’t want to talk about wages
On Tuesday, October 8, we arrived on time, ready to hear management’s justification for proposing a six-year contract with only a 10% wage increase. Instead, management showed up late, dismissed their wage proposal, claimed we had already discussed this matter via email, and attempted to move forward with their counters.
We asked them the following critical questions:
How does their proposal keep up with the cost of living?
How does it address the growing number of employees at the top step?
How does it address recruitment and retention issues?
Do they plan to use the top step as a starting rate?
They indicated they would get back to us with answers. They need to know we will continue to show up and fight for fair wages. They suggested that their consultant come to talk about their market study. We informed them that they could come, but we wanted to hear about their proposal, not the report.
On a positive note, management has pulled back on some of their anti-union proposals. They also showed progress in other areas, including:
Strengthening our Health and Safety Committee.
Expressing openness to a Labor-Management Committee to help address ongoing issues throughout the contract.
Agree to establish a maximum consecutive timeframe for supervisors working within the bargaining unit.
It’s clear that our organizing efforts are pushing them to address non-economic proposals more quickly. Let’s keep up the momentum! When we get electronic copies of management’s counter-proposals, you can read our proposal tracker here. You can also read their market study and our wage presentation there.
Next Bargaining Dates:
October 15 at 5 PM
Location: 7575 Southfront Rd, Livermore, CA 94551October 18 at 10 AM
Location: 7575 Southfront Rd, Livermore, CA 94551
