The intent of this electronic vote process was to meet the desires of the Delegate body to utilize electronic means of ratification and to increase membership participation in that process.   Unfortunately, we experienced the opposite result and membership participation was less than 10%, which is 15% lower than the participation we typically have using our mail-in ballot process. Because of the failure of the Tele-Town Hall providers to assure proper communication with our membership, the Contract Administration Department will be voting the AGC/GCCA and Wall & Ceiling Agreements by mail.   The Contract Administration Department will be sending out paper ballots along with the revised Tentative Agreement, to the membership on Monday, June 20, 2016.

The Regional Council will continue to move forward with finding innovative ways to improve membership participation in our ratification process.  We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused to the Local Unions and our members.

OR SW WA 2016 Vote Process- Printable

Chinese kiteskites
kites for salekites for kids

Volunteering usually requires you to drive to a location and spend a few hours. Sometimes our lives are so busy, we just can’t find the time.

Do you have 5 minutes to volunteer for your Union? Here are some ways to help your Union procure more work for you and protect our rights to collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions.

Register to Vote and Update Registration.

Being a registered voter is an important part of being a Union member. As a registered voter, you are a “member” of a powerful voting block that sets the direction of government. If you have moved or your phone number has changed, you need to re-register to vote. County Elections Offices may need to get in touch with you if there was a problem with your ballot. If you are an “absentee” ballot voter, an accurate address is necessary to ensure you receive your ballot packet in a timely manner.

Open the mail the Union sends to you. Read it.

Dozens of members interview candidates for office every year. Those volunteers spend many hours to make it easy for you to make educated choices on who has our backs when it comes to jobs for our members. Honor their hard work by reading their recommendations of candidates running for office.

Vote every time there is an election.

Many members skip voting in Primaries, for School Bonds and Levies and other Special Elections. Don’t let others decide which candidates make it to the General Election, make your voice heard. School Bonds and Levies are a prime example of “voting for jobs.” Passing School Bonds for construction can put hundreds of our members to work, including you.

Voting regularly is a regulation in some states to remain an Active Registered Voter. If you stop voting, you may have to re-register. Don’t like to drive to the polls after a long day at work and stand in line? If you don’t live in a state with mail-in ballots, register as an Absentee Voter. This gives you the opportunity to vote at your leisure (and hopefully with the list of recommended candidates next to your ballot). This also gives you the opportunity to vote as a group with your family, friends and coworkers.

Still not sold on why it’s important to “vote jobs”? One lawmaker led the charge to kill the Columbia River Crossing project, a multi-Billion dollar bridge. Building that bridge will put hundreds of carpenters to work. Do you know that this politician won his last election by only 78 votes & that 77 members in that Legislative District didn’t vote? 78 votes could be the difference in our members collecting unemployment or earning Union wages and working. He’s up for re-election in 2016. Let’s show him the door!

So, can you spare 5 minutes?

Go here to register: https://vote.usa.gov/

Your job may depend upon it!

Chinese kiteskites
kites for salekites for kids

Doug Tweedy – 92

Mike Settles – 39

Pete Savage – 0

President

Jimmy Matta – 84

Scott Brineman – 48

Vice-President

Jerry Auvil – 88

John Bennet – 44

Warden

Jim Saenz – 59

Rockey Marshall – 73

Conductor

Mike Petrish – 71

Max Murphy – 61

Executive Committee

Cass Prindle Local – 30

Joe Baca – Local 41

J.P. Jones – Local 59

Ed Triezenberg – Local 70

Mary Alice McMurray – Local 82

Dave Rupe – Local 96

Ken Ervin – Local 129

Ron Robbins – Local 146

Gene Picariello – Local 156

Dena Rempelos – Local 196

Steve Kramer – Local 635

John Hoyrup – Local 808

Lloyd Weatherford – Local 816

Mary Ellen Renz – Local 1564

Scott Flannery – Local 2403

Trustees

Cass Prindle – Local 30

Joe Baca – Local 41

Ken Irvin – Local 129

Yes votes 890

No votes 579

Disqualified votes 3

The Contract proposal was ratified with a 81 % Yes vote.

The Total Vote was: 1797 to Accept and 412 to Reject the offer.

The breakdown by area was as follows:

Western WA: 1709 Accept 407 Reject – 81%

Central WA: 88 Accept 5 Reject – 95%

4 ballots were disqualified