June 9, 2005

In productive sessions on Monday and Tuesday this week, Union and Court negotiators nearly completed setting the stage for the final act of their 10-month bargaining drama. Leaving the best - and most contentious - issues for last, the two sides hammered out agreements on five non-economic contract articles, and moved closer on several others.

Among the tentative agreements reached is one that spells out the procedures to be followed should the court reduce the force for economic reasons. While neither side is predicting a layoff in the foreseeable future, the article is an important one which ensures that any reduction will be accomplished fairly and based on seniority. The provision also states that independent contractors may not be used to replace or eliminate employees in a reduction in force.

The sides also agreed that subcontracting of unit work will continue to be governed by the relevant sections of SB371, which include provisions covering opt-outs and a 100-day per year restriction on the use of other contractors.

Completing the five agreements reached this week are two separate articles covering the rights of stewards and management and an article that spells out procedures to be used if any negotiations are required during the term of the contract.

Now, with what once seemed an impossibly far-off transition date only three weeks and four meetings away, both sides continue to express their resolve to complete a full agreement by June 30 th . But no one is saying that'll be easy. The Union is still awaiting the Court's response to its last proposal on the very important issue of assignments which seems likely to require some intense and time-consuming discussion.

And then there's the money.

The Court continues to say they put all of the cash in their first proposal. The Union continues to say that more is needed to resolve inequities and assignment issues that, among court employees, are unique to interpreters. Something has to give.

The Union team is both grateful and bolstered by the support shown by all of those interpreters who rallied at CJC on Wednesday. Your efforts have brought us this far and now you've added a serious dose of reality to the set where the final sessions will be played out. Thank you.

Region 1 Bargaining team: