Forestry Statewide Meets at Bargaining Kick-Off

The Forestry Local held its Winter meeting in conjunction with our Bargaining Kick-Off on Sunday, January 25th at the DoubleTree Lloyd Center.  On the agenda were our regular business items and deciding who would present our coalition bargaining proposals at our first bargaining session on Tuesday, February 3rd.

For the presidents message I reminded everyone that during bargaining we will be representing Forestry employees  and outcomes should seek to solve problems and leave our members with hope.

Decisions made at our meeting include:

Our treasurer position is currently vacant and elections to select a new one will be made at our next Statewide meeting.

Purchasing aluminum water bottles was approved as a promotional item.  Distribution is anticipated in March or April.

A cell phone paid for by the Local will be acquired for Brandon's use.

To aid communication within the Local, the preparation of a listserv is being investigated to distribute e-mails.  If you are interested in getting on the list contact any of your Local's officers or your Organizer.

The Local's leadership will continue to build our membership, recruit Stewards and develop Contract Action Teams (CATS) to support contract negotiations.

Next Statewide meeting will be April 11 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in Salem at a location to be determined.

Forestry Statewide Meeting, Sunday January 25th

The Forestry Local will be holding it's next Statewide Meeting on Sunday, January 25th from 8 to 10 am at the Double Tree near Portland's Lloyd Center.  We will be meeting in the Mt Hood room and are providing a call in option.  For the call in number contact me at (503) 801-8468 or our SEIU 503 organizer Mike Bray at (503) 408-4090.

An Agency of Choice, Firefighting Positions Open

First a thank you for the additional day of leave granted many employees of the Department of Forestry in recongintion of the last two very extended forest fire seasons. This action along with many others continue Forestry's recognition as being an "Agency of Choice" for the public services provided and commitment to the working guidelines for all employees.

The Oregon Department of Forestry has 46 different employment opportunities for seasonal, full time work within the forest firefighting program at differnent locations throughout Oregon.  This is your opportunity to see what it is like to work for an Agency of Choice and be part of an exceptional firefighting team.  More information is available at www.oregonjobs.org

Forestry Local Statewide Meeting, Sunday January 25th

The next Forestry Local statewide meeting will be Sunday morning from 8:00 to 10:00 am January 25th in Portland.  Our meeting will be held just before the SEIU Bargaining Kickoff held the same day.  Agenda items will likley include bargaining concepts developed to date.

For more information contact any of your Local officers or Mike Bray our staff SEIU 503 orgainizer.