Tell Tacoma Comm. College: Two years of bargaining is too long

TACOMA (June 16, 2014) — More than two years ago, Student Support Staff (unionized exempt staff) at Tacoma Community College (TCC) became part of the Washington Federation of State Employees, AFSCME Council 28. But after two years of negotiations, TCC Student Support Staff are still without a contract.

That’s just wrong. Tacoma Community College management refuses to agree on even basic workers’ rights like just cause. The basic foundations of any union contract includes just cause. In fact, all other union contracts at TCC have such provisions.

TAKE A STAND! It’s time for TCC management to stop stalling and start negotiating.Help TCC Student Support Staff win a fair contract by sending a letter to TCC President Pamela Transue and other TCC decision-makers. Let them know that you are paying attention, that you stand in solidarity with these TCC employees, and two years of bargaining is too long. Click here to send that message.

The TCC Support Staff bargaining team returned to the bargaining table last week and meets again this Tuesday, June 17.

From left: WFSE/AFSCME’s Kent Tse and Vanessa Arpin, TCC Exempt Staff Bargaining Team member Kari Twogood, Adam Hoyt of Jobs with Justice, and WFSE/AFSCME’s Rosemary Sterling and Amy Murphy.

► Exempt staff became  a recognized bargaining unit at TCC and certified by PERC in 2012.
► Only 20 of 40 proposed articles have been agreed on in two years of negotiations.
► TCC exempt staff are being denied a fair union contract including basic worker rights like just cause, seniority, fair processes for grievances, transfers, advancement and other negotiable considerations.
► Management has declined to agree to include even the most basic worker rights afforded to all other TCC unions.

Stand in solidarity with TCC Student Support Staff by sending the letter below to TCC President Pamela Transue and other TCC decision-makers.

Get more information at wfse.org.