Labor & Employment Law

Operating Engineers Ratify Contract for 11,000 Calif. State Workers?and More Bargaining News

By Belinda Boyce

Operating Engineers ratify a contract covering 11,000 California state employees, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,300 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

SETTLEMENTS
IUOE, State of California: Members of Operating Engineers (IUOE) State Unit 12 last week ratified a two-year contract that covers more than 11,000 California state workers.  The California Assembly approved the deal, which is expected to be voted on by the state Senate this week.

UAW, University of California: Postdoctoral researchers at the University of California ratified a five-year contract this week. This is the first contract for the 6,500 members of PRO/UAW, and the deal could potentially impact researchers at college campuses across the country who are fighting for respect and dignity.

UNITEHERE!, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services: More than 2,000 members of UNITEHERE! at 15 airports across the country ratified a three-year contract with Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services (DNC-THS). While wages are negotiated locally, the deal provides affordable health care coverage and increases in paid time off.

BCTGM, Michigan Sugar Co.: According to the BNA Daily Labor Report (subscription required) members of four Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) locals ratified a five-year contract with Michigan Sugar Co. The contract covers 600 workers, providing a 14.5 percent wage increase over the term but eliminating the defined benefit plan for new hires when the contract expires July 31, 2015.

NEGOTIATIONS
IBEW, City of Vallejo: The long-running dispute between California’s City of Vallejo and Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2376 may come to a head later today, when the City Council considers imposing a contract on the workers. IBEW has offered a counter-proposal to the one the city might impose.

ATU, Greyhound Canada: A lockout at Greyhound Canada was averted when Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1415 reached a last-minute tentative agreement with the bus line. The deal must still be ratified by the 480 members of Local 1415.

ALPA, Evergreen International Airlines: Pilots at Evergreen International Airlines, which offers cargo and charter services, rejected an agreement reached in April. The Air Line Pilots said the contract, which was five years in the making, would leave its members working under the same conditions and for the same wages they received in 1999.

NNU, multiple Duluth hospitals: Nurses at two Duluth, Minn., hospitals are planning to hold a strike vote this week after negotiations failed to produce an agreement. The 400 nurses at St. Luke’s Hospital and the 900 nurses at St. Mary’s – Duluth Clinic are represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (NNU-MNA).

WORK STOPPAGES
IAM, Delta Air Lines: 91 flight simulator technicians at Delta Air Lines will have another opportunity to join the Machinists (IAM), after the National Mediation Board last week ruled that the airline had interfered in a representation election held in February.

UMWA, Teck Resources Inc.: 168 miners went on strike Aug. 6 at a Teck Resources Inc. mine in British Columbia. The members of Mine Workers (UMWA) Local 7292 are fighting for wages comparable to those of miners at other Teck locations.

UFCW, Alliant Techsystems Inc.: 700 members of the International Chemical Workers Union Council (UFCW-ICWUC) Local 261 went on strike yesterday at a ballistics plant in West Virginia. Workers rejected the latest offer by Alliant Techsystems Inc., manufacturer of explosives and rocket propellants for the Defense Department, citing objections to the benefits package.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only.  As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on August 17, 2010 (boomark / email).