Aug. 17, 2004

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BARGAINING BULLETIN #21

RFA Contract Talks Focus On Final Non-Economics Before Tackling Money

Discussions again focused on job security at contract negotiations Monday, August 16.

Both sides are trying to bridge differences in the few non-economic areas still not completed before moving on to money. After a long discussion on the role of seniority in layoffs and the use of contractors, RFA’s bargainers said they will present new proposals in those two areas next week as well as a new proposal concerning union bulletin boards.

The biggest difference remains in how important seniority should be if there are layoffs sometime in the future. RFA management had indicated job performance — as measured by annual evaluations – should be the deciding factor. But at bargaining Monday, RFA Vice President Libby Liu strongly indicated she saw seniority as being an important factor.

We have been pushing for a system where the experience a person gains by working at RFA is given proper recognition. We also have told RFA management whatever formula is adopted it should be one where employees – and managers — know where they stand so there is little room to manipulate the system. Otherwise, layoffs likely would lead to grievances and arbitrations.

In another job security issue, the two sides discussed the use of contractors. We have objected to the use of contractors if there were members on layoff and we also raised concern that some contractors have essentially become long-term temporary employees.
Libby Liu said the use of contractors is being reviewed. She assured the Guild contractors wouldn’t – and even couldn’t — be used to replace a laid off employee.

The company also said it would present a new proposal for a Guild bulletin board or boards. We assured the company we would not post anything defamatory or slanderous, but that we must control our own bulletin board(s). Up till now, management has proposed to give the union one bulletin board and demanded full control.

Finally, we signed off on the Health and Safety article. It provides for a joint management-Guild safety committee that will meet quarterly to review any outstanding issues.

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