Good PERB….Bad PERB What really happened for the 79 day period between 8/12/11 to 10/30/11, did the County of Fresno and SEIU sit down at the negotiation table and bargain fairly as each purports through its attorney in the recent Factfinding report or did one side take an unfair advantage of another during the proceedings. Many of people have weighed in on this matter for several years now, including some stunning comments made by the PERB chair through the recent release of the most current Factfinding report. The employees of SEIU bargaining units deserve the truth about the bargaining impasse of 2011 because it led to the 9% salary reduction, which ultimately led to an ill planned, 3 day work action. Sadly, if the contract ratification vote returns with a “yes” verdict the PERB charges, including the charge related to the 9% salary reduction, will never be revealed. The PERB is important; it is a good thing. It can provide the backbone to bigger and better things legally if there is a positive outcome on a decision regarding the loss of the 9% salary reduction. It will show the words and deeds of both parties, behind closed doors…that may be just as important as money, especially to those that are on the fence regarding the value of SEIU leadership bargaining on their behalf. SEIU needs PERB to run its course; PERB could vindicate SEIU, especially union boss, Tom Abshere. He really needs good public relations these days, after all he was in charge of those negotiations for SEIU that collapsed into that 2011 impasse, and ultimately he will be judged as a hero or a goat, as will the success of SEIU as a credible future representative in Fresno County as a result of this outcome. If the union’s previous claims are correct the PERB process would show the opponent of SEIU as the unfair aggressor in bargaining, the true enemy of members. Win the PERB, and the residual outcome could be a windfall of adoration from members towards SEIU who could possibly come to their senses and discover that, “SEIU was always looking out for their best interest” However there is something else in play here too, SEIU may not want the PERB decision to run its course and for good reason. The final report by PERB could possibly note in detail that SEIU botched contract negotiations in 2011, leading up to the 9% salary reduction and the subsequent 2012 strike. I didnt just make that up; there may even actually be some credence into that thought. Most members do not know that: The PERB FactFinding Report crafted by the Impartial Chair expressed surprise that SEIU declined to meet for negotiations early, further noting SEIU attempted to settle a contract for 6 bargaining classifications in less than 2 ½ months. In all fairness, both the County of Fresno and SEIU point fingers at each other regarding the comedy of errors that led up to circumstances surrounding the great bargaining impasse of 2011 and the subsequent 9% salary reduction, but a PERB decision will shed light on this matter in a detailed, blow by blow, report. Ultimately a lot more regarding this matter will come out in that decision report and that could spell curtains for some, including SEIU representation and its leader. I have a thought, I hope I am wrong but I think that SEIU screwed up negotiations, I am sure they had a little help from the other side, but it is stunning to think that the union had a chance to meet early to resolve the contract issue in 2011, and sat on their hands for 4 months and did nothing, if this is any indication of how they approached the rest of negotiations at that time then that may be a signal of how the rest of that negotiation went. In fact, it may even come out that union boss, Tom Abshere may have done more damage in that 2011 bargaining process than we could possibly fathom and I think SEIU definitely does not want that to come out through that PERB decision. Quick vote, dismiss PERB as the keystone to settling a contract and it all goes away, including the truth in this matter. Hopefully we get a chance to see the outcome of this PERB matter run its course, because it should. The PERB decision outcome…the most important document we may never see but really need too.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 14:17:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015