Dear Sisters and Brothers:
You may have seen the Company’s August negotiations update. That communication does not tell the full story, and the Union will not allow the Company to use updates to the membership as a substitute for bargaining with the duly authorized Union Negotiating Committee.
The bargaining table is where proposals must be presented, explained, challenged, and resolved. If the Company has questions about the Union’s proposals, the Company should address those questions directly to the Negotiating Committee, not attempt to create pressure by negotiating from the floor with individual members.
The Union did not ask to abandon the August 4 – 7 bargaining dates. The parties mutually agreed to cancel that session. The Union offered to keep the week on the calendar and continue working to close outstanding issues and narrow the scope of the parties’ comprehensive proposals. The Company declined.
Comprehensive proposals, especially proposals that combine multiple tentative agreements and unresolved economic and contractual issues, require careful drafting and review. The Union will not rush that work simply to satisfy a public deadline established by the Company. Our responsibility is to protect the membership and present a complete, accurate, and enforceable proposal. Speed is not a substitute for getting the agreement right.
Our next scheduled bargaining session with the Company is the week of September 21 in Seattle. Additional sessions are scheduled for the weeks of October 5 and November 2. The Company’s update omitted the November 2 session. Unless the Company advises the Negotiating Committee otherwise, the Union expects the Company to honor all agreed-upon bargaining dates.
Let us be clear: the Union is prepared to bargain, prepared to work, and prepared to reach a fair agreement. But meaningful bargaining must occur directly between the Company and the Union Negotiating Committee. Communications designed to bypass the committee, pressure the membership, or shape expectations outside the bargaining room are counterproductive and should stop.
For accurate and official information, please rely on your Union Negotiating Committee and District 142 communications. If you have questions or concerns, contact the committee directly and sign up for District 142 updates at www.atd142.org. Thank you for your continued support, patience, and solidarity.
Sincerely and fraternally,
| John M. Coveny, Jr. President/Directing General Chair | Jesse Wilson General Chair | David Figueira General Chair |
Joint Negotiating Committee:
Alaska COPS: Melissa Hopson, Jane McGrath, Andrea Mondoy-Honaker, Sandra Hagan
Alaska RSSA: Mark Walker, Garrett Gebauer
Hawaiian COSFP: Mana Kanahele, Ku’ulei McGuire, Phyllis Moleta-Torres
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