AFGE Professional Local 3669

VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN

Master Agreement Negotiations

Alma L. Lee
National VA Council, President

Contract Negotiation Update

First and Second Days of Negotiations in Louisville, KY

Today, November 18, 2008 is the second day of Contract Negotiations in Louisville, KY. We have discussed Article 12, “Details, Reassignments, and Temporary Promotions” for the past two days, with NO resolution at this time.

Observers (yesterday and today) from Local #611, Louisville Regional Office, Local President, Bob Nagle, and Vice President, Terri Priddy, along with Augusta Thomas, from Local #1133, Louisville Medical Center.

They have been great hosts, many thanks for their hospitality! Successful “lunch ~n~ learns” were held today.

Hope everyone wore their “red” today in support of your Negotiations Team…Don’t forget “red” on Friday!

Third Day of Contract Negotiations in Louisville, KY

Today was the 3rd day of Contract Negotiations in Louisville, KY. We signed Article 5, “Labor Management Committee”. It has the same language in the current agreement, except the part in the article that says, “Safety Representative”. That has been changed to read, “Three (3) Safety Representatives”.

We also signed off on Article 12, “Details and Temporary Promotions” (new title).

We are currently discussing “Reassignment”, the new Article 72. This article was separated out from Article 12, in the current agreement.

Observers today, from Local #611 were Holly Smith, Secretary and Terri Priddy, Vice President from Louisville Regional Office. And from Local #1133, Louisville Medical Center was Augusta Thomas, 6th District Fair Practices Coordinator, John Hetzel, Executive Vice President, and Harold McNeal, Chief Steward.

Today has been a very productive day! Local #1133 continues to be great hosts! Lunch ~n~ learns were again held today and more new members have signed up! Great job!

More updates tomorrow…

Fourth Day of Contract Negotiations in Louisville, Ky

Today we completed the last day of Contract Negotiations in Louisville, KY.

We signed the new Article 72, “Reassignment, Shift Changes, & Relocations”. We also discussed Article 40, “Arbitration” but with NO resolution. Due to the fact that VA wanted to tell us in the arbitration article, how we should write a grievance and what paragraph issues should be in. They also wanted us to agree that an arbitrator would look at the merits of the grievance, prior to it being arbitrated.

As you are well aware, WE DID NOT agree to any of this and WILL NOT agree to any of it!

Observers today, from Louisville Regional Office, Local #611 were Holly Smith, Secretary and Chuck Ballard, Chief Steward. And from Louisville Medical Center, Local #1133 was Sandra Richardson, Local President, Marlon Gaines, Title 38 Steward, Walter Barnett, Title 5 Steward, and Augusta Thomas, 6th District Fair Practices Coordinator.

This week went well with the exception of the presentation of Article 40 today!

Much thanks to Local #1133 who did a GREAT job hosting us! And a congratulation on all their successful lunch ~n~ learns!

Hope you wore your “red” today! Until next time…January, 2009!