State workers to vote on contract

Following a 22-hour mediated bargaining session that started Friday, July 20, Service Employees Local 503, Oregon Public Employees Union, and the State of Oregon reached a tentative agreement on a new two-year contract covering almost 18,000 state workers.

The tentative deal came on the heels of a unanimous rejection of the state's "last and final" offer by nearly 300 member leaders, who had begun arranging meetings for rank-and-file members to take a strike vote. Instead, union members are attending ratification meetings to hear about the contract. They will vote by mail to ratify or reject the proposal. Ballots will be counted in mid-August.

Highlights of the agreement include a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment Jan. 1, 2002, with a minimum raise of at least $40 (whichever is greater) to help lower-paid state workers; and a 3 percent wage hike Feb. 1, 2003. The state originally said it would not increases wages more than 2 percent a year.

Full-time workers also will maintain employer-paid health insurance benefits the first year of the contract and up to $85 per month in additional employer contributions in 2003.

For 350 newly-represented temporary workers, the union negotiated a fund to pay for health benefits after three months of service and secured guaranteed pay ranges, holiday pay and the protections of the union contract. The parties also agreed to expanded use of limited-duration positions, which will provide flexibility in hiring to the state and workload relief for employees.

The previous two-year contract expired June 30, but was extended for two weeks.

Local 503 represents workers at most state offices, including the departments of transportation, forestry, revenue, and numerous human service agencies.