CWA 1180 - Worksite Organizing

Organizing
Slow but sure headway in organizing additional titles
May 2004

Local 1180 has been working on winning representation of five additional titles. The formal process is a slow because of the procedures set up by the Office of Collective Bargaining (OCB), but the union has been making steady progress. Local 1180 representation of these titles not only makes organizational and administrative sense, given the nature of the work and civil service promotional lines, but will also make us a bigger, stronger union, which will benefit all members of 1180 regardless of what title they're in. (Click here for past coverage of these efforts.)

Coordinating Manager

The Coordinating Manager (CM) position in the Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a title that Local 1180 members in the Assistant Coordinating Manger (ACM) title promote to. The union filed a petition seeking representation of the title in 1994, but backlogs kept the case from moving until 2002. There are about 1,600 CMs. HHC management put some 800 of them on a list they claimed should be taken out of the title. That move, which appeared to be a blatant attempt to avoid union representation, was challenged by Local 1180 in an improper practice charge. When the union filed the complaint, HHC backed off and agreed to revise their list. As of press time, the union had not yet received the revised list. Once that issue is resolved, the CM title will become an 1180-represented title, and members in it will be covered by the current 1180 contract. It is not likely that this will happen before the end of the year.

In the meantime, union officials have been meeting with Coordinating Managers to address their questions about the union and begin to welcome them into the 1180 fold. A meeting of CMs at the 1180 office on March 25 was well attended. Lots of questions were asked, for instance about 1180 benefits, and CM concerns like overtime were discussed.

For more information on these organizing efforts and what they mean for 1180 members, see Linda Jenkins' column by clicking here

Administrative Manager

The Administrative Manager title is the next step in the promotional line from Principal Administrative Associate (PAA). The union filed a petition seeking representation of this title in 1994 as well. Currently, hearings at OCB are scheduled through the end of 2004.

Associate Job Opportunity Specialist

As 1180 members know, the union has been tangling with the Human Resources Administration (HRA) for three years now about this ill-conceived title (click here for a history). Hearings on the representation issue were concluded earlier this year, and briefs from all parties have been filed with OCB. Now everyone is waiting for a decision from the hearing officer. In this case, both 1180 and DC 37's Local 371 filed petitions for representation, and it is possible that OCB will send the matter to an election between the two unions.

Administrative Job Opportunity Specialist

The Administrative Job Opportunity Specialist (Administrative JOS) title is replacing the Administrative Manager title in the Job Centers. It is the title to which AJOS promotes. Resolution of representation issues for this title will follow decisions about the Administrative Manger and AJOS titles.

Associate Call Center Representative

Associate Call Center Representative is a new title specific to the 311 Call Center. Most of the people serving in the title are 1180 members and the process of accreting this title to 1180's contract should be completed shortly [click here for update].

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