Thursday, May 3, 2012

HQ-MEL Communication Committee Starts Work

by Mariann Cook Andrews 

Union members with concerns that are not covered under the contract can now contact members of their local Union Management Communication Committee for assistance. The Headquarters and Manchester Environmental Laboratory (HQ-MEL) committee formed in February and can now help Ecology employees in those offices.

The Washington Federation of State Employees bargained for and won a clause in the contract to establish regional and headquarters communication committees at Ecology. Several other agencies have similar systems.

Our Mission Statement

We are the Union part of your Ecology Headquarters-Manchester Environmental Laboratory Union Management Communications Committee. We are here to collect HQ & MEL employees’ concerns, and bring them to management. We provide a system for giving and receiving ideas on matters that affect your ability to do your job.

The committee will handle concerns such as:
  • Building closures
  • Building Access       
  • Workplace health and safety
  • Loud hand dryers
  • Parking
  • Rodents
  • Pets
The committee will refer concerns that come under the union contract to the bargaining committee, shop stewards, or other groups if appropriate.

The group has already worked on one employee’s concern about paid vs. unpaid parking in the Lacey building’s parking garage.

HQ-MEL Committee members:
  • Barb Anderson, HQ-Water Resources
  • Dustin Bilhimer, HQ-Water Quality
  • Elena Guilfoil, HQ-Air Quality
  • Dolores Mitchell, HQ-Toxics Cleanup (Dolores also serves on the statewide Union Management Communication Committee)
  • Mariann Cook Andrews, HQ-Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction
Union members in the two offices elected the committee members for the duration of the contract.

Below are members of the other regional UMCC committees:
  • CRO: Committee is still being formed—Contact a steward if you would like to be a member!
    ERO: Shara-Li Joy, Marcie Mangold, Phil Leinart, and Scott Mallery
    NWRO: Committee is still being formed—Contact a steward if you would like to be a member!
    SWRO: Pat Bailey, Robin Munroe, Tom Middleton, Bob Troyer, and Lydia Wagner.

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