President’s Weekly

October 8, 2007

This past week has been a busy one for the Association.  ATC/APFO contract negotiations began October 1^st through the 3^rd, Soldotna PD contract negotiations entered the final stages, Ketchikan PD contract negotiations are underway, and Unalaska negotiations are still at impasse.  Additionally, PSEA has been very busy assisting Wasilla PD in their efforts to pass Proposition 1 which grants Wasilla city employees the right to organize and unionize for collective bargaining purposes.  Interestingly, with the passage of Wasilla Proposition 1, Wasilla becomes the first Alaska municipality to opt into the Alaska Public Employees Relations Act (PERA) – very ground breaking!  We have put a lot of effort into obtaining an audience of Wasilla PD employees in order to present our Association.  We are finding that the employees have been very receptive and grateful for our efforts and the information provided.  We have been successful in getting their employees to sign PSEA representation cards which secures us a place on the representation election ballot.  We will be conducting a series of meetings with and for the employees of Wasilla PD so that they will be as knowledgeable as possible when they vote.  As you associate with members of Wasilla PD and the MatCom Dispatch Center please extend a welcoming spirit.  Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to the profession.