June 23, 2009

Portland Contract Update  

Both parties were back at the bargaining table yesterday, June 22, 2009 and were joined by a Federal Mediator.   The mediator was brought in to help the parties find continued common ground so that we can reach an acceptable agreement.

We opened the meeting by providing a counter-offer to the employer’s last offer.  The Union Committee wanted to make sure that the health and welfare aspects of the contract would not experience the same problems facing JLMRT.  After numerous discussions on this issue, the employers agreed to continue reviewing the cost of the Union’s new proposals.  They have agreed to spend the morning reviewing this information.

Additional updates may be available throughout the day, depending on what we get back from the employers.  Please keep checking back.  If you would like to be notified when new information is available, you are encouraged to sign up for TXT alerts.