Contract Watch: PID

OCTOBER 31, 2005

Big Win for WPEA Members!!!

In July 2005, the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) filed group grievances in seven general government agencies regarding the misapplication of the language related to employees’ Periodic Increment Date (PID). Management in each of these agencies stated that the changes to PIDs is due to a requirement in the new Master Bargaining Agreement that went into affect July 1, 2005. WPEA contended that the employer’s reading of the contract language they rely on - Article 38.8 for General Government and Article 37.6 for Higher Ed - is erroneous.

The grievances were all heard at Step 3 - Agency Head level - where, since the issue was the same for every union and was being implemented statewide, agency heads felt they did not have the authority to resolve the matter. WPEA filed for pre-arbitration for each of the seven group grievances filed.

The Washington State Labor Relations Office (LRO) requested the consolidation of all the WPEA grievances. And, since three other unions representing state employees had also filed grievances on this same issue, LRO requested that all four unions who had filed PID grievances meet in a collective pre-arbitration meeting. WPEA, along with the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), Teamsters Local 117, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 17, met with LRO on October 18 to work out a resolution to the PID issue.

On Monday, October 31, 2005, the parties finalized an agreement with the Washington State Labor Relations Office which will return the periodic increment dates to what employees had prior to July 1, 2005. The correction of the PID will begin immediately and shall be completed no later than December 31, 2005.

The parties agree to issue the following joint statement:

"Four state employee unions (WFSE, WPEA, Teamsters Local 117, IFPTE Local 17) met with the State's Labor Relations Office to discuss grievances filed over the implementation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) related to employees periodic increment date (PID).

Due to the disagreement regarding the language, the parties agreed to clarify the existing PID language in the CBAs. The agreed-upon language provides for the following:

Employees hired prior to July 1, 2005 whose PIDs were changed will have their PIDs adjusted back to the pre-July 1, 2005 date.

Employees who were hired on or after July 1, 2005 will have their PID increase calculated in accordance with this agreement.

Seasonal career employees' PIDs will be adjusted for time not worked.

All employees will retain their PID for any period of continuous service, even if they are subsequently appointed to a position with a different salary range.

Employees who were negatively impacted by the change to their PID will receive retroactive salary adjustments where necessary to comply with this agreement no later than December 31, 2005.

Any salary overpayment will be handled in accordance with the Salary Overpayment Recovery provision in the applicable CBA.

Agency personnel offices will notify affected employees of any PID changes."

"It’s unfortunate that the state chose to take advantage of ambiguous language in the contract, rather than adhere to its intent and spirit," said WPEA Executive Director Leslie Liddle. "WPEA is pleased that we have a agreeable resolution and look forward to our members’ periodic increment dates being corrected and lost wages returned to them."

Members who have questions should contact their staff rep or WPEA headquarters for further information.

OCTOBER 17, 2005

Update

WPEA and Labor Relations Office (LRO) have agreed to consolidate all the PID group grievances at the pre-arb level. Other unions that are dealing with this same issue have agreed to consolidate all grievances filed on the misapplication of the PID into one pre-arbitration.

A meeting was schedule for October 18 to see if there is a appropriate resolution prior to proceeding with arbitration. Check the WPEA web site for updates .

The fact is, we believed all along that all the PID grievances would end up at the LRO level, who is really coordinating all the agency responses. Under the new contract, an independent arbitrator, not a state appointee as in the past, handles arbitration.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2005

Update

WPEA filed 7 group grievances at all agencies regarding misapplication of the Periodic Increase Date (PID). Over sixty members provided WPEA with copies of the letters they received informing them that the employer was changing the PID for employees not at Step K of their Salary Range.

Your employer has stated that the changes to PIDs is due to a requirement in the new Master Agreement. WPEA contends that the employer’s reading of the contract language they rely on - Article 38.8 for General Government and Article 37.6 for Higher Ed - is erroneous.

We are in the process of looking at arbitration dates and will be providing updates as we progress with this issue. All but the WSP PID group grievance have been moved to the pre-arbitration level of the grievance procedure.

WPEA and LRO have agreed to consolidate all the PID group grievances at the pre-arb level. WPEA is fully prepared to take this matter to arbitration if it is not resolved at the pre-arb level. The fact is, we believed all along that all the grievances would end up at the LRO level, who is really coordinating all the agency responses. Under the new contract, an independent arbitrator, not a state appointee as in the past, handles arbitration.

JULY 1, 2005

Management Trying to Change Increment Date

As you may or may not be aware, your Employer recently changed the Periodic Increment Date (PID) for employees not at Step K of their Salary Range. Over sixty members provided WPEA with copies of the letters they received informing them of the change.

Your employer has stated that the changes to PIDs is due to a requirement in the new Master Agreement. WPEA contends that the employer’s reading of the contract language they rely on -- Article 38.8 for General Government and Article 37.6 for Higher Ed -- is erroneous.

We have filed 7 group grievances at all agencies regarding misapplication of the Periodic Increase Date (PID). We are in the process of looking at arbitration dates and will be providing updates as we progress with this issue.