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Pizza and Soft Drinks Provided to WPEA Members

Mark your calendar and plan to attend your scheduled workplace meeting and learn what the union is
working on for you. For more information, contact your WPEA Staff Rep, Kathleen Oest.

DECEMBER 2007

Pierce College Member Leaders Shining Example of Effective Union Activism

During their monthly union lunch meeting, Pierce College Chief Job Rep, Mary Davis (front left), and WPEA Staff Rep, Kathleen Oest, talk to members at the Pierce College Fort Steilacoom campus about recent grievances and the importance of policing your contract and being a member activist.

Long before the first Master Higher Education Contract went into effect back in 2005, our member leaders at Pierce College new the importance of getting involved and policing their contract. Their team of Job Reps has grown from only the seven allowed in their old bargaining unit contract to 19 (and counting) under the Master Higher Education Contract which allows for an unlimited amount of Job Reps. This is the highest number of trained Job Reps in one WPEA bargaining unit!

Over the past two years, this incredible group of workplace advocates have banded together to fight for their co-workers rights. Though the goal is always to resolve workplace issues at the lowest possible level–which they have been highly successful at doing – the Pierce College Job Reps have had to go to battle over such issues as: abuse of management rights; discrimination/hostile work environment; violation of the Disciplinary Action Policy; vacation leave; breach of confidentiality; violation of PDP process; and the most recent win being to block two unfounded RIFs of bargaining unit employees.

“For anyone who has been close to RIFs, you know what a big deal this is, and how happy we were to block this action against a member,” said Pierce College Job Rep, Joe Elliott, in a recent e-mail to his fellow bargaining unit members. “Try to understand how big a deal this is. It does not always happen in our favor so this is a significant event, and it occurred twice. How very exciting!” he added.

Elliot attributes these wins for our members to the hard work and dedication of Chief Job Rep, Mary Davis, and Assistant Chief Job Rep, Bryan Torell, who are “out there every day handling their Pierce College jobs and working very hard for all the members.” He also recognized WPEA Staff Rep, Kathleen Oest, as the “best darn Job Rep that any college could ever hope for, who has brought so much stability to our members, and has done such a fantastic job.”

During the November monthly lunch meeting at the Pierce College Fort Steilacoom campus, WPEA Communications Specialist, Cathie Tedrick, explained the recent restructuring and improvements to the Job Rep Training WPEA will making in response to member feedback and needs. She also reiterated how important it is for EVERY member to know their union contract and police it!

He went on to remind his bargaining unit of “... ALL the dedicated people of WPEA down in Olympia. These extraordinary folks are out their every day working towards not just our benefit, but to the benefit of 11 other colleges. They do an extraordinary job for ALL of us, and we should be very thankful for their dedication.  Even while we are working on our normal job duties, these folks are out their trying to help us get higher wages, better benefits, filing Unfair Labor Practices, lobbying our state legislators, and so many other actions ALL FOR US!!!”

He gave specific accolades to WPEA Organizer, Herb Harris, and WPEA Field Services Director, Marian Gonzales, whose “contributions to the stopping of the RIFs are very significant.”

“Let us not forget our wonderful bargaining team that included Lisa Fortson and Joe Elliott, and our labor/management team that included Joe and Julie Anderson!” responded Chief Job Rep Mary Davis. “I appreciate their time commitment and assistance.”

The Pierce College WPEA Job Rep Council meets regularly to discuss workplace issues and the progress of filed grievances. From back left: Nancy Brandt, Loretta Bonfadini, Diana Stevenson, Jami Button, Lisa Fortson, Ann Woodlief, Connie Herrara, Chief Job Rep Mary Davis, and Julie Anderson. Seated: Sandy Peek, Marjo Burdick and Asst. Chief Job Rep Bryan Torell.

The collaborative effort of these Job Reps and their bargaining unit members actively policing their contracts and bringing issues forward, with the support of union staff, make WPEA a force to be reckoned with in the eyes of the College.
If you want that same power in your workplace, it’s as easy as attending your regularly scheduled workplace union meetings to learn what the Union is working on for you; reading and policing your union contract, and getting trained to be a workplace Job Rep. WPEA is strongest when the members actively take an interest and ownership in ensuring a positive work environment.

“So, the next time someone says, ‘What has WPEA done for me?’ my answer to them will be easy... They have done EVERYTHING for ME! added Elliott. “Show me any previous 4-year period when we got a Cost of Living Adjustment. Show me a time when the state would give us all $750 of overpaid health care money!”

“This was not our doing, it was WPEA! Do you think the college cares for us as much???” he concluded. “I don’t think so, or maybe we should be paying parking fees...or worse yet, what other type of fee would they charge us if we were not protected by a Collective Bargaining Agreement and a whole lot of staunch defenders who make it their business to look out for us?”

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