“We work every day. We place ourselves at risk of injury and death just to feed our families. For the State not to acknowledge that is offensive.” - Kathe Jackson

The State is getting desperate. In an effort to appear less unreasonable to the arbitrator, they have unilaterally increased their protected economic position after negotiations and mediation concluded.

I have some exciting news to share. Our Union bargaining committee has successfully achieved interest arbitration rights in our 2017-2019 collective bargaining agreement.

Your DOC bargaining committee held a three-day bargaining session with the state on July 19-21 and on August 2 with a mediator.

With DOC negotiations now shifting to economics, the State needs to recognize the incredible service that correctional employees provide to protect the public. Right now, that isn’t happening.

At the end of our negotiations session with the State over our DOC contract yesterday in Olympia, members of our bargaining team were disappointed and frustrated.

We were back at the bargaining table with the State on June 9 and 10 to negotiate over the terms and conditions our 2017-2019 DOC contract.

On May 23 and 24, our Union bargaining team met with the State in Olympia to bargain over our 2017-2019 contract for Teamsters at the Department of Corrections.