Local 1909 union accuses Town of Friday Harbor of unfair labor practices – Town responds (updated)
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Local 1909 union accuses Town of Friday Harbor of unfair labor practices – Town responds (updated)

ORIGINAL: Friday, February 14, 2025 @4:01 p.m.UPDATED: Saturday, February 15, 2025 @9:28 a.m. (quote from Denice Kulseth added)by Jeff Noedel In a press statement today, Guild of the Pacific Northwest Local 1909 leaders accused the Town of Friday Harbor of bad faith bargaining. The union claims that Town Administrator Denice Kulseth “has employed a strategy…

FROM ARCHIVES (19 weeks ago): WSF marine engineers and oilers get 4% pay bump two years in a row – MEBA sought to close gap with other job titles on vessels
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FROM ARCHIVES (19 weeks ago): WSF marine engineers and oilers get 4% pay bump two years in a row – MEBA sought to close gap with other job titles on vessels

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: Thursday, September 26, 2024REPUBLISHED: Thursday, February 6, 2025 The union representing Washington State Ferries’ engine room crew members (Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association) and state negotiators reached an impasse in bargaining their new contract in early August. The parties entered into an interest arbitration hearing Friday, August 23. The hearing ended Friday, August 30. …

Fair pay?  Here’s what the Town of Friday Harbor pays its unionized employees now
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Fair pay? Here’s what the Town of Friday Harbor pays its unionized employees now

Wednesday, February 5, 2025by Jeff Noedel Two Thursdays ago, attorney Nicholas Power, who works for Bellingham-based Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees (PNWE) Local 1909, took to the podium at the Friday Harbor Town Council to implore Town leadership to do everything in their power to prevent the Town’s 29 union-represented employees from becoming “the working poor in a…

Union lawyer and iron-worker use their 3 minutes in ‘public comments’ to advocate for better contract for Town workers
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Union lawyer and iron-worker use their 3 minutes in ‘public comments’ to advocate for better contract for Town workers

Friday, January 24, 2025by Jeff Noedel Citing his First Amendment right, Nicholas Power, attorney for Bellingham-based Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees (PNWE) Local 1909, walked up to the podium facing the Friday Harbor Town Council last Thursday. With four rows of Town employees in their day-glow orange work clothes sitting behind him, he said, “It…

The long, winding path to top WSF jobs
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The long, winding path to top WSF jobs

Thursday, November 21, 2024by Jeff Noedel In Saturday’s Fix Our Ferries legislative summit, the following two graphics were mentioned several times. State Senator Marko Llias described them as “something even a legislator can understand.” Developed by Washington State Ferries with the help of labor unions, these two graphics show the many steps, and years needed,…

IMPASSE TO BE BROKEN: WSF Engineers’ union and State of Washington enter arbitration today
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IMPASSE TO BE BROKEN: WSF Engineers’ union and State of Washington enter arbitration today

Friday, August 23, 2024 Washington State Ferries’ engine room crew represented by their union, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, and state negotiators in the Washington Office of Financial Management reached an impasse in bargaining over terms and conditions of their contract. They begin interest arbitration today, Friday, August 23. Arbitration is expected to be complete by next Friday,…

Western Washington University to continue talks as WWU begins strike
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Western Washington University to continue talks as WWU begins strike

The following is a statement from Western Washington University. Bellingham, WA  — As the Western Academic Workers United (WAWU) begins its strike today, Western Washington University will be meeting with its WAWU bargaining partners to reach a swift and sustainable agreement that minimizes the impact on WWU students and their academic pursuits.  WWU’s campus is open…