Late yesterday afternoon, our Coalition of Unions achieved a tentative agreement with the County over all compensation elements in your contract. The agreement is fully recommended by your Union bargaining committee.

Our members at the Woodland Park Zoo are active in organizing the annual Bowling for Rhinos fundraiser.

We may be on the verge of an important breakthrough in our Total Comp negotiations with King County. This is great news, especially given the profound challenges we have faced over the last nine months of bargaining.

We still have no clear answers from the County in our effort to achieve a Total Comp agreement for Union members at King County.

In the past, the issue of climate change has been framed by corporations and some government agencies as a choice between the “environment or jobs”. That is a false choice that only divides workers and communities.

At the convention, division meetings take place covering all aspects of the work of our Union. IBT staff, Local Union staff and members discuss the successes and challenges that our Union has experienced.

Our Union Coalition bargaining team spent most of the day in caucus on Wednesday, June 22, first reviewing the possible economic parameters including wage increases, a coalition premium and health and welfare benefit protection.

We put aside our differences with King County for a day as union representatives and County officials gathered at the Labor Temple for the annual King County Labor Summit.

Local 117 Secretary-Treasurer, John Scearcy, has published a guest opinion piece speaking up on behalf of professional staff working at the City of Black Diamond.