CHRIS DUGOVICH — who first assumed the position of President/Executive Director of Council 2 in October, 1989 — was re-elected to an additional four-year term at the June Convention in Tacoma.

He begins his fourth term in the position. Dugovich began his career with Council 2 as a Staff Representative in April, 1982.

During his speech to the convention delegates on Saturday morning, he outlined the many successes the Union has enjoyed, not only in the two years since the last convention, but since he became President.

Council 2 has grown from a 6,500-member union with its headquarters in what is now a pizza parlor to a 16,000-member organization with eight offices across Washington State. Organizing new members has always been a priority and it continues with the recent victory at the King County Library that brings on board an additional 550 members, he said.

Politically, the Union is stronger and more active than ever. “Due to our efforts in the political arena and the growing clout that has resulted, we are real players in the policymaking areas that are the most important to our members,” Dugovich said. These areas are wages, benefits and working conditions.

Of special note was the recent passage of the landmark PERS pension reform bill in the State Legislature. This bill for the first time will give Council 2 members a real voice in their pensions.

“In the legal arena we continue to do our utmost to enforce better than 170 contracts in Local jurisdictions across the state,” Dugovich said. “In addition, when necessary we have not hesitated to take employers to court to enforce your rights.”

Dugovich said he couldn’t be more pleased by the recent settlement in Spokane County that nets our members an aggregate total of more than $240,000 in the Standard Insurance demutualization lawsuit.

“The most important thing we do is the basics,” Dugovich said. “In other words, we represent members in contract negotiations and make sure during the term of all these agreements that employers live up to their part of the bargain. While the economic times have been extremely tough we continue in all but a small number of jurisdictions to hammer out cost-of-living increases.”

The credit for all these successes rests with the members, the state executive board and the staff of the union, Dugovich said.

“On behalf of the officers, Secretary-Treasurer Judy Johnson and our new Vice-President Ron Fredin, I’d like to thank the members for all the support we have received,” he added.

“From time to time we may make mistakes, but you have our commitment that we work extremely hard to continue our successes and strengthen this Union.”

Dugovich re-elected Council 2 president