Labor & Employment Law

1,300 Public Employees in Wisconsin Back New Pacts?and More Bargaining News

By Belinda Boyce

The 1,300 Dane County, Wis., workers approved new contracts effective through 2014, 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
AFSCME, Dane County: The Dane County Board in Madison, Wis., last week approved contracts covering some 1,300 workers through 2014. The members of AFSCME Council 40 had voted on the contracts earlier that week.

WORK STOPPAGES
AFM, Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Members of the Detroit Federation of Musicians/AFM, on strike at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since Oct. 4, protested outside of the Auto Show yesterday to urge Ford to withhold its support for the orchestra until the labor dispute is resolved.

NEGOTIATIONS
IAFF & OPEIU, City of Vancouver, Wash.: Police officers and firefighters in Vancouver, Wash., are at an impasse in negotiations with the city. Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 452 and Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 11, which represents police officers, will now go to mediation, and if that fails to produce an agreement, then to binding arbitration.

IAM, Continental Airlines: The Machinists (IAM) has reached a tentative agreement with Continental Airlines covering some 9,500 flight attendants. IAM members rejected an earlier agreement last October, but the negotiating committee is recommending ratification of this pact, as it provides improvements to wages and benefits and includes a no-furlough clause.

APWU, U.S. Postal Service: Six weeks after the contract covering 250,000 members of the Postal Workers (APWU) expired, APWU President Cliff Guffey said he’s frustrated with the lack of progress in negotiations with management. 

ALPA, Evergreen International Airlines: Pilots at cargo carrier Evergreen International Airlines have voted to authorize a strike should negotiations fail and the National Mediation Board release them from negotiations. The members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have been in bargaining with the airline since 2005.

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 January 11, 2011 (boomark / email).