COUNCIL 2 bargaining units ratified more than 100 contracts during 2001, making the year one of the busiest ever for Council 2 contract negotiations.

One contract was approved about every two-and-a-half working days during the year.

“This number reflects the uncertainty of the times in public agencies, rising medical insurance costs, and the hard work of the Council 2 staff representatives to complete negotiations in a timely manner,” notes Chris Dugovich, President/Executive Director of Council 2.

Locals renewed bargaining contracts, settled some that had been pending for years, and negotiated new ones in a flurry of activity.

Employees made meaningful gains. In all, there were stories to tell of hard work, dedication and determination.

Among the toughest fought negotiations was that with Laidlaw Transportation Company. (See separate report.) The other contracts were a mixture of dedication, determination and drive.

The examples that follow show something of the year's achievements.

• Spokane County prosecutors, who are members of Local 1553-PA, achieved a huge victory early in the year when, after a battle that lasted nine years, they secured an agreement providing about 20 percent wage increases over three years.
• Local 1308 in Kitsap County resolved a deadlock over a contract through use of the Inter-Local Conflict Resolution Group. Negotiations had been conducted for more than a year after the previous contract expired, but the contract was ratified after meeting with the group's mediators.
• Local 618-L ratified a three-year agreement with the City of Lacey in November — over a month before the previous contract expired.
• Local 270-C, representing City of Cheney employees, settled a contract providing 3.1 percent increases in 2002 and 100 percent of the consumer price index in each of the next two years. Among the victories in the negotiations was the union's ability to remove what they saw as “very bad medical plan cost sharing language” proposed by the City.
• The Snohomish County Master Contract was settled. The settlement was significant as it encompasses 1,464 employees. (See separate report.)
• An agreement was ratified between Local 120 and the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department following more than a year of negotiations. A major issue was a return to a normal grievance procedure following a failed attempt at involving a peer review board to settle disputes.
• A settlement by Local 1135 provides about 19 percent wage increases over three years.