OSA Newsline - December 26, 2006

Ballots are out in the mail for the OSA executive board election. If you are a member, and have not yet received a ballot, please call George Morgan at the union office. Ballots must be received by 5pm on January 4, 2007.

Anyone interested in applying for the upcoming Associate Staff Analyst or Staff Analyst Trainee exams, please fill out the forms sent to you several weeks ago. Based on the responses received thus far, some members have needed and been helped by our union office. Not all members are clear on their civil service status and the rules affecting exams and promotions. If you have lost the form, you can download it here.

There were negotiations on citywide health issues last week, but, as expected, none on the local unit contract. We didn’t expect the City to get back to us during the holidays, so we weren’t surprised. As members are aware, we are seeking the UFT pattern of 2% and 5%.

OSA Newsline - December 18, 2006

We opened negotiations last week and asked for the UFT pattern of 2 and 5.The City said it would study our demands and get back to us, but we suspect that they will not do so until after the holidays.

Our Education and Training Unit is working hard preparing for the upcoming Staff Analyst Trainee and Associate Staff Analyst exams. Please return the yellow information sheet you received a few weeks ago, if you are interested in the training.

Ballots will be mailed out later this week to union members for the union’s biannual election. Most positions in OSA, the union, are uncontested, but there is a contested election for delegates at large, so ballots will go out.

The Holiday Party went off well, with one glitch. Prospect Hall was gorgeous and lots of space as well, the food and company were good, but the charlotte russes arrived late from the baker. They were finally taken back to the union office, where they will meet an appropriate fate over the week to come.

Have a happy holiday.

OSA Newsline - December 11, 2006

Last week was full of negotiations, with the Transit Authority on the details relating to unionization of Administrative Staff Analysts, with the City on the School Safety and Traffic Enforcement Unit, and with the Housing Authority on the non-monetary aspects of their contract.

The TA and NYCHA deals seem near completion and the School Safety and Traffic Enforcement contract continues to be a problem.

Negotiations commence today on the main financial contract with the City. The union is seeking to follow the UFT 24 month/7% plus contract

Our Enrollment Sales Representative collective bargaining election is also underway and, in general, the union is being kept pretty busy.

None of this should stop you from attending the OSA Holiday Party this week. So, see you at the party.

OSA Newsline - December 4, 2006

One of the main questions at last week’s general membership meeting was when OSA will be entering collective bargaining. The answer is next Monday, December 11, 2006.

Other questions honed in on our demands. Would we be asking for residency restrictions to be lifted or modified? Would we be asking for an increase in Administrative Staff Analyst maximums, etc.? The answer to these, of course, is yes, and the residency change (at least) seems easily attainable.

Other demands will come from those responses sent back to us from the recent mailing. In addition, we are seeking the UFT pattern of a 24 month contract which includes raises of 2% and 5%.

At least one member asked when the process would be completed and, of course, the answer is, we don’t know. There are two sides to this negotiation and, for our part, we would like to conclude quickly. The City may choose to cooperate, as occurred with the 3.25% raise of last year - or not. If not, that always delays matters. On the other hand, raises are always retroactive.