ILWU Local 5 President Mary Winzig (leaning over table) signed the local’s second contract with Powell's Books March 31. (From left) Powell’s CEO for Operations, Ann Smith, Powell’s owner Michael Powell and Local 5 bargaining team members Kevin Maniak, Tracey Trudeau, Jim Cowing, Jeff Hensley and Ryan Takas. Bargaining team members not pictured are John McMahon and Gin Enguehard.
Members of warehouse, retail and allied workers Local 5 ratified the new agreement by a vote of 233 to 6 in mail-in balloting that concluded March 29. The three-and-a-half year contract took effect April 1.
"This agreement bucks the national trend of workers losing their employer-paid affordable health care," Winzig said. "That, along with wage increases and stronger language to protect people on the job, makes this a victory all round."
Powell's will continue to foot the whole bill for visits to doctors on the preferred provider list, and will cover 80 percent of the cost of visits to doctors not on the list. Workers’ monthly premiums will continue at 15 percent of Powell’s actual health care costs until April 2006, when they will go up to 16 percent. Annual wage raises of two percent should keep Local 5 members ahead of the increase in the cost of living in Portland.
"The new agreement includes several language changes that will help the union build its power on the shop floor," said Local 8 Labor Relations Committee member Leal Sundet, who worked closely with the Local 5 bargaining team. "For one thing, eliminating merit increases will reduce management’s control."
Union representatives will also have more access to members at work and fewer restrictions on their ability to conduct investigations and other union business. Management will have to notify the union of safety violations and discipline, and the union will get 15 minutes of orientation time with each new employee on the clock.
"We will get face time with everyone so we can say, 'Here’s the union, contact us if you have any problems," said Local 5 Union Representative Ryan Van Winkle.
ILWU International Vice President Bob McEllrath spent considerable time in negotiations with Local 5, and gave the local full access to one of the union’s attorneys, Rob Remar of Leonard, Carder LLP. The help from the International proved invaluable, Winzig said.
"Bob made an enormous contribution in leading the bargaining team and educating us on the process," Winzig said. "He was amazing."
McEllrath offered his congratulations to the bargaining team and the local.
"The negotiating team stayed focused on the issues and worked long and hard. Once again the support of the membership, getting behind the team and sticking with them, proved that solidarity helps in getting a contract," he said. "And I want to personally thank Leal Sundet for all the work he did."
—Marcy Rein
Photo credit: Scott McCaughey
