There has been no movement on either side since March, and non is expected until after the election.......Sept. 23, 2004

 

March 25, 2004

 

It has come to our attention that there are many questions, concerns, emails, and phone calls regarding the Administrative Support survey. This survey has been conducted by the Office of State Employee Relations (OSER formerly know as the Department of Employee Relations). Phase I of the survey was implemented during the last set of negotiations. Phases II and III have been combined and will be implemented during the lift of this contract

 

Here are some facts and information that you should know regarding this survey.

 

1.       When the survey is implemented, your placement will be determined based upon your current position description. All recommendations for placement will be made from the position description that is currently on file in the Human Resources Office of your agency. If you have not updated your position description to accurately reflect your current job responsibilities, it is critical that you do this immediately.

 

2.       Draft classification specifications of the new tides can be found on the Council 24 web site (www.wseu-24.org) for your review. These classification specifications are the recommendation from OSER and the bargaining team cannot negotiate tides or job specifications. Please keep in mind that some of the current specifications (i.e. program assistant) being used are 15-20 years old and needed to be reviewed and revised. The current Program Assistant tide is a “catch-all” tide that has been used for a long period of time and does not recognize the diverse job skills and responsibilities that are part of these positions statewide.

 

3.       The union and the state are currently negotiating pay range assignments for the new classifications. This is the only thing that the Administrative Support Bargaining Team can legally negotiate in the bargaining process. Pay range assignments to classification tides cannot be released until we have a tentative agreement.

 

4.         Your Administrative Support Bargaining Team and the State of Wisconsin have agreed in concept to language dealing with transfers, layoffs, reinstatements, and restorations in regard to the survey and new job tides. This new language will primarily follow the existing language found in Article 7. Current contract language only allows mandatory transfers within the employing unit. All other transfers are done on a permissive basis. This is nothing new to us and we are currently faced with having to either be placed on permissive probation or else testing for job vacancies. Most of the newly created tides cross agency lines as the current PA tide does now. Some will be more agency specific. This will allow for transfer movement as we know now as well as recognition of special skills and requirements of certain positions.

 

5.         Human Resource Departments and OSER are working on the placement of individuals. We, as your bargaining team, cannot release information related to individual placements due to legal restrictions   governing the bargaining process. The team does not have input into individual placements but can bring broad placement issues to the bargaining table for discussion. When the final placement determinations have been made and shared with the bargaining team, and upon mutual agreement between OSER and Council 24, then and only then will this information be released. As with all surveys, an appeal process will be outlined at a later date in time. Ongoing discussions with the Administrative Support Bargaining Team and the State of Wisconsin will continue throughout this process.

 

While the Administrative Support Bargaining Team does not have the ability to negotiate survey implementation other than pay range assignments, the remainder of the master contract is still being negotiated which covers your benefits and work environment. If you are currently a member, thanks for being involved and we appreciate your input and support throughout these negotiations. If you are not a member, this is your opportunity to become involved and proactive in issues concerning your future. Please consider this your invitation to join by sending us your name and mailing address. We will send you a membership card to complete and return.

 

Sincerely,

 

Administrative Support Bargaining Team

 

Dan Duchrow, Chair

Sharon Haberkorn, Secretary

Carol Baths

Cecilia Lewandowsld

Gary Mitchell