Unionized MDT employees threaten strike
Posted: January 21, 2012 Filed under: All posts Leave a comment »State Human Resources Division Manager and Governor Schweitzer’s Chief labor negotiator Paula Stoll says she takes this strike threat very seriously.
“We’re interested in getting to mediation as quickly as we can,” Stoll said.
Stoll said most state employees haven’t received raises since 2008. Teamsters Local Union number 2 Secretary Treasurer Daniel Doogan said his employees have been negotiating raises for about a year. He said the timing of this strike would highlight the work his members do.
“One of the critical functions that they do for the state of Montana is plow the roads in the winter time. So that gives us more sense of urgency and leverage at bargaining,” Doogan said
But the state doesn’t have much to bargain with. Stoll said the state legislature did not pass a negotiated agreement with the unions for the first time since she assumed the role in 1995. So the state doesn’t have any money set aside for raises, and MDT cannot just take money from anywhere in their budget.
“Generally speaking, if an agency is facing a strike threat and they don’t have money to fund the proposed pay raises they’d have to look probably at reorganization and layoffs,” she said.
“I think they are in a tough bind but I still have my job to do and it’s represent my members,” Doogan said, adding the next couple of weeks of negotiation will be critical.
“That very likely could include not showing up for work and not plowing the roads that’s an option that we have and I’m not taking that off the table,” he said.
The negotiated agreement killed by the legislature called for a one percent raise this year and a 3 percent raise in 2013. Doogan said the Teamsters are asking for a 5 percent raise each of the next two years.
