- by Jessica A. Moore
Over the past few months Ecology has been working with the Office of the State Human Resource Director (OSHRD), formerly the Department of Personnel, to review and update the Environmental Specialist classification. The series as a whole was last revised and retitled in 1994 and in 1996 the minimum qualifications for an ES5 were revised.
According to the Ecology’s Human Resource Office (HRO), “the purpose of the review project is to better define, describe and distinguish each of the five levels in the Environmental Specialist classification series for purposes of aiding in classification allocation. Specifically, this means we are updating and modifying the content of the classification specifications for each of the five Environmental Specialist classifications.”
Also HRO states that “the review project is not for reviewing the classification allocation of individual positions or to address compensation issues. Compensation for any classification covered under the collective bargaining agreement is addressed through the collective bargaining process.”
The review process has primarily involved HRO and the Classification Review Unit (Review Team) staff at OSHRD. The process has included a review of ES class specifications, review of ES position descriptions at Ecology, interviews with program managers, and a limited number of desk audits. These reviews led the Review Team to propose a set of draft recommendations to HRO and EMT.
HRO and EMT provided comments to the Review Team, including the idea of a new classification, Environmental Scientist. The Review Team has moved forward with finalizing the draft changes to the ES classification specifications. These changes include revised definitions, “distinguishing characteristics” for all five classifications, and the removal of the manager’s expert designation form for ES 4 and 5.
The proposal for a new classification has been put on hold for the future. So what’s next?
The final revised specifications need to be okayed by the State HR Director to be placed on the next quarterly State HR Director’s meeting agenda for final approval, currently scheduled for May 10th.
Once the agenda for the meeting is set, a public comment period will be opened before the May meeting. Commenting on the proposed revised specifications is very important—it is the primary way to get your voice heard on these changes!
The final details are not available for review yet, but Chris Parsons has put together a slideshow on the HRO Intranet site that has some general information about the process and proposed revisions to the ES series.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact a Shop Steward in your office. We may not have all the answers right away, but we will keep you in the loop and make sure your questions and concerns are heard during the public comment period.
Keep your eyes and ears open…there will be more information coming your way in the near future! ▪
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Demands to bargain and furlough grievance update
– Debbie Brookman, Labor Advocate, WFSE Staff
Below is a quick update on the status of the various demands to bargain and furlough grievances.
1. Contracting Out - Watershed Health Monitoring/EAP This is a $550,000.00 contract to conduct extensive field monitoring/sampling in the Upper Columbia River and NE Salmon Recovery Regions. Negotiations were held on January 17, 2012.
2. New Administrative Policy for Shared Leave Ecology has proposed a new policy to address how shared leave requests and usage are implemented. Issues include some arbitrary time frames being attached to requests/usage. Negotiations were held on January 20, 2012.
3. Dam Safety - Change in Inspection Process Dam Safety is piloting the use of a surveying tool that allows inspections to be conducted by one person. Current practice is to send 2 employees for all/most dam inspections. We have some safety concerns that need to be addressed. Negotiations were held on January 27, 2012.
4. Fleet Management Consolidation Like many other large agencies, Ecology is consolidating management of their state vehicle fleet into the new Department of Enterprise Services (formally known as General Administration). The issues raised include ensuring that employees continue to have reasonable access to vehicles, application to special use vehicles, and reimbursement for snow chain installation/removal, etc. Negotiations were held on January 30, 2012.
5. Furlough Grievances - Update on Part-Time employees who were reduced to less than 20-hours during TLO weeks This case was filed on behalf of part-time Ecology employees whose work schedules were reduced to less than 20-hours as a result of the furloughs. This case has been consolidated into several other grievances filed in DSHS and the Department of Health. This case has gone to hearing. Closing briefs were turned in on January 6, 2012. A decision from the arbitrator should be available in 30-45 days.
Questions about this grievance should be directed to Sherri Ann Burke, Labor Advocate, at WFSE headquarters.
Questions on the demands to bargain can be directed to Debbie at 360-352-7603 or 800-562-6002. ■
Below is a quick update on the status of the various demands to bargain and furlough grievances.
1. Contracting Out - Watershed Health Monitoring/EAP This is a $550,000.00 contract to conduct extensive field monitoring/sampling in the Upper Columbia River and NE Salmon Recovery Regions. Negotiations were held on January 17, 2012.
2. New Administrative Policy for Shared Leave Ecology has proposed a new policy to address how shared leave requests and usage are implemented. Issues include some arbitrary time frames being attached to requests/usage. Negotiations were held on January 20, 2012.
3. Dam Safety - Change in Inspection Process Dam Safety is piloting the use of a surveying tool that allows inspections to be conducted by one person. Current practice is to send 2 employees for all/most dam inspections. We have some safety concerns that need to be addressed. Negotiations were held on January 27, 2012.
4. Fleet Management Consolidation Like many other large agencies, Ecology is consolidating management of their state vehicle fleet into the new Department of Enterprise Services (formally known as General Administration). The issues raised include ensuring that employees continue to have reasonable access to vehicles, application to special use vehicles, and reimbursement for snow chain installation/removal, etc. Negotiations were held on January 30, 2012.
5. Furlough Grievances - Update on Part-Time employees who were reduced to less than 20-hours during TLO weeks This case was filed on behalf of part-time Ecology employees whose work schedules were reduced to less than 20-hours as a result of the furloughs. This case has been consolidated into several other grievances filed in DSHS and the Department of Health. This case has gone to hearing. Closing briefs were turned in on January 6, 2012. A decision from the arbitrator should be available in 30-45 days.
Questions about this grievance should be directed to Sherri Ann Burke, Labor Advocate, at WFSE headquarters.
Questions on the demands to bargain can be directed to Debbie at 360-352-7603 or 800-562-6002. ■
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