| Season’s Greetings! With the Holiday Season in full swing, we hope this message finds you and your families in good health and happiness. As the new year approaches, we wish prosperity and success to follow you into 2022.Our first session of bargaining with your employer was held on December 7th. In opening dialogue, parties recognized the delay in negotiations and the need to move forward with purpose at the bargaining table. Kyle Abraham, who is representing your employer at the bargaining table, has been directed to reach an agreement on a first contract in a timely manner.As is customary, this primary meeting focused on reaching an agreement on ground rules for bargaining. Topics including conduct, attendance, logistics, scheduling, and format were agreed to before bargaining of contract language. Currently, we have 4 more days of bargaining scheduled before commencement of the upcoming short session. We will be meeting January 4th, 5th, 19th, and 20th in Salem. While not every update will include a list of proposals passed, or their current status, we can report that the initial proposals passed to your employer involved thorough Safety and Training language intended to shore up many concerns identified in surveys and discussions throughout the organizing campaign. These proposals are the start of discussions on a contract that will address employee concerns about pay, benefits, job stability, harassment and more. There will be additional opportunities for input and feedback from the bargaining unit at our next general meeting. We are looking at availability in January for our next meeting. |
| If you have any questions, concerns, comments, or need any assistance from your union representatives, please contact your Local 89 union hall at 360-755-6900. Alternatively, If you have questions for any of your colleagues on the bargaining team, please reach out to them. They are happy to answer any questions you may have. In Solidarity, IBEW Local 89 |