August 25 & August 26, 2008

UFCW Local 555 and Bay Area Hospital representatives met on August 25 and 26 to begin negotiations for a new labor agreement to replace the one which expires on December 31, 2008. The parties have agreed to again use the Interest Based Bargaining (IBB) process in these negotiations. During the first two day session, the parties discussed and agreed to a series of ground rules, including the distribution of a joint communication describing what occurred after each two day bargaining session. Committee members are free to discuss generalities of the session, but cannot answer detailed questions on proposed solutions to interests of either side.

These bargaining meetings are open to all members of the bargaining unit subject to space limitations at the meeting location. Any bargaining unit member who wishes to attend any of the scheduled sessions should contact Kay Nelson at (541) 756-0579 (Ext. 312) by no later than 5:00 p.m. of the Friday prior to the scheduled meeting dates. Additional sessions have been scheduled for October 13 and 14, October 20 and 21, October 28 and 29, November 3 and 4, November 11 and 12, December 2 and 3, and if needed, December 8 and 9.

Under separate cover a request for additional donations of PTO for use by the UFCW bargain committee members will be circulated. The current bank is insufficient to provide adequate compensation to the committee members throughout the expected duration of the upcoming IBB process.

The parties have jointly expressed a strong interest in completing negotiations for a successful labor agreement in time for a ratification vote to occur before expiration of the current contract.

The parties had an extensive discussion of a variety of issues (we call them “interests” as part of the IBB process) which were presented by both sides.

Additional information on some of the identified interests will be gathered and presented at our next meeting.

If you have any additional questions, please contact one of the committee members for the hospital or bargaining unit.