DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration

We have concluded the negotiations and mediation process with the State over your 2017-2019 collective bargaining agreement.

Michelle Woodrow | August 12, 2016

We have concluded the negotiations and mediation process with the State over your 2017-2019 collective bargaining agreement.

Over the next two weeks, we will be holding contract update meetings to provide you with an overview from bargaining and an opportunity to ask questions.

In the final mediation session, held on Friday, August 12, we were unable to reach agreement with the State on the core economic items in your contract.

The State’s final economic proposal was a 3 percent general wage increase in the first year of the contract and a 1 percent increase in year two. Your union bargaining committee unanimously rejected that proposal.

The committee decided that the offer was so insulting to the membership that they could not “in good conscience dignify that level of disrespect from the State with a vote."

You can view a joint statement from the committee here. You can also view a short video that summarizes the outcomes from bargaining here.

We will have an interest arbitration hearing in the last week of August to resolve mandatory subjects of bargaining, including the core economic items.

We will be sending you more information about the interest arbitration process and the upcoming hearing soon.

It is unfortunate that the State was unwilling to recognize the essential nature of your work and the incredible service you provide to keep our communities safe.

I want to recognize our outstanding bargaining committee for their hard work and countless hours speaking out on your behalf.

Thank you for your service to our community. Please stay safe.

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Lynn Kunkle commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-31 23:14:49 -0700

First of all, I apologize to JJ for my reaction. As he said, I did resort to violence in my response. However, I will ask that he AND Robert in the future please restrict their comments from personal attacks against people in pictures. You do not know these people nor do you know the circumstances. Nor do you know that we were allowed to dress casually as was the state as much of the negotiations process is waiting for a response from the other side. Rober. t, I referred to you as a “young man” because even you you are a 30 year veteran of DOC I very likely am your chronological senior and no I do not intend to go into a calendar discussion of birthdays. A lady never tells her age in polite company. I will end in saying that I am tired of defending my position as a negotiator and say that I as a team member did what I thought was best for the majority as did my fellow team members. Yes, we had disagreements at times but we managed to resolve them with class and without name-calling and cussing at one another. So, I conclude in saying that I hope the arbitrator will grant us the best decision about the best salary that he can give us. We do deserve far better than the State’s best and final offer of 3% and 3%.
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Jj Meyer commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-29 10:08:22 -0700

Lynn
You asked if I had any ink? Yes full sleeves, does this make anything better for you? I would still cover them up and I would look as professional as I possibly could. Do I go to work looking like a slob? No! So why is it ok to go to one of the most important things, that represent ALL DOC staff, looking like a SLOB? I think you need to pull you’re head from the dark place you have it shoved up and figure things out a little more before showing you’re ignorance and you’re back side to everyone who is reading. Oh and BTW I wasn’t just talking about the guy with ink, he was just the one who stuck out the most, and I wouldn’t venture to far because you have no idea who you are talking to. Pretty funny how you went straight to violence instead of thinking, maybe if they did look more like they mean business more might just be done. But hey, why not be represented in an unprofessional manner, thats what I would like everyone to think of us as, right? I stand by my comment. Would you go to an interview looking like most of them? Ask yourself that before making idiotic comments, Oh and I like how you call a 30 year vet of DOC, a young man. Ignorance must be amazing!!
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Robert Percifield commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-29 05:37:11 -0700

Best descriptive word for what you are, glad you had time to look it up, I’ll use boot licker if you prefer? You are lost in your arrogance and ignorance of a system that you pretend to have a voice in. You are what i like to call a, “useful idiot”. So fly your banners, stomp your feet, chant your slogans and lick their boots! Your walking blind through briars, following the sirens of solidarity. When nothing could be further from the truth. Well versed in the lies of your handlers, does not equate truth or reality. Get an independent idea, or shut up. If the pools to deep, don’t get in the water.
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Lynn Kunkle commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-28 21:40:55 -0700

I assure you young man that I am far from being a brown noser. (You certainly do like the word sycophant. Is that the only big word you know?)
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Robert Percifield commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-28 21:27:39 -0700

Yes, I read the full disclosures at the END of negotiation for the 2015-2017 contact. Bottom line the union lied to everyone then, just like they are now. They are working with the state to strip us of any say in negotiating the contracts. We do not have interest arbitration! All we have is usurpation of our ability to vote on language and economic package. The state still has to approve any MOU agreed upon by 117 and DOC, therefore the state has the final say and we had no vote no voice. Honest negotiations start with full disclosure. I would love to be in a transparent negotiation but likely would not get the invite. I would own it and they would learn something! It’s easy for them to deal with you sycophants, they have no idea how to deal with a confident informed awake individual.
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Lynn Kunkle commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-28 16:59:52 -0700

Yes Robert, I did respond to comments that were previously made. I even used complete sentences and I did not insult the personal appearance of a man I do not know. Regarding your question of the disclosure of the argument to be presented at arbitration: I believe that is presented at the end as it was at the last contract. I urge you to step forward to be a member of the negotiations team for the next contract period. You will find it a very eye-opening experience. Perhaps you will even learn a thing or two about yourself.
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Robert Percifield commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-28 05:34:00 -0700

And a kool-aid drinking sycophant speaks!
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Lynn Kunkle commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-27 23:53:43 -0700

“Maybe the State would take us more serious if guys would try to cover up their neck tattoos and try to look more professional instead of looking like a slob who just rolled out of bed!” wrote JJ Meyer below. I would like to address JJ by saying that you do not know this gentleman nor do you have any idea how good of a negotiator he was on this team. Nor do you know his expertise as an officer at our facility. Due to the lack of class you show by writing your post I would venture to say that “the slob who just rolled out of bed” would wrap you around his pinky in the blink of an eye and have you wondering how to get your head free of your rectum so you could get yourself free. The presence of tattoos or the lack thereof do not indicate professionalism or intelligence. (Just curious-do you have any ink on your body? Are you an unprofessional slob?) An American Indian Proverb says, “Never criticize a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins.” I would ask the same of you. Also, be thankful for the contract that your negotiations team has achieved for you. If you are unsatisfied with it then I encourage you to become a shop steward and ask to join the negotiations team for the 2019 negotiations team. In respectful solidarity I will close.
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Robert Percifield commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-13 14:19:18 -0700

Disclose right here and right now, all items going to “arbitration”!
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Robert Percifield commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-13 14:01:17 -0700

Great point, JJ! Perhaps 117 should disclose the states full offer to its forced membership and our union’s counter. How about full discloser of argument to be made at arbitration by our union. Let us decide! What’s insulting? Is finding out after the fact that our union gave away location pay without our knowledge and gained nothing for it. What will you sycophants give away this time? Also can’t help but notice the imbalance of representation negotiating both demographically and job class.
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Jj Meyer commented on DOC bargaining ends with insulting offer from State; next up: interest arbitration 2016-08-13 07:43:19 -0700

Maybe the State would take us more serious if guys would try to cover up their neck tattoos and try to look more professional instead of looking like a slob who just rolled out of bed!!