Our Union Bargaining Team has been meeting steadily with management throughout June/July and we have exciting news to share!
Last week, at our 7th bargaining session, we reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) on a new contract. Our Union Bargaining Team is proud of what we accomplished and is recommending a YES vote. What’s important to note not only what we were able to secure, but what we were able to stave off (e.g., costly changes to healthcare).
You can review a summary of the most notable changes below. Click here to view the complete TA.
MEMBERSHIP MEETING & RATIFICATION VOTE
Thursday, August 6
4:30 – 6 PM
Conf Rm A – PCHA Office (11515 Canyon Rd E)Plan to join us for the Membership Meeting & Ratification vote this Thursday. We will walk through the TA, answer your questions, and provide an opportunity for members to vote.
There will also be pizza and gift card giveaways! Please make every effort to attend the meeting in person, either after work or during a break.
Voting will close at 6 PM on Thursday, Aug. 6, and ballots will be counted immediately. If you’re unable to attend in person, please contact julia@opeiu8.org for the link to vote online.
NOTE: Only union members may attend the meeting and participate in the ratification vote. Nonmembers do not have a voice or vote in the ratification process.
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
Compensation
- 3% wage increase each year of the contract, effective on each employee’s anniversary start date
- 3% bonus each year of the contract, also effective on each employee’s anniversary start date
- Increased the maximum of the pay ranges, ensuring employees will not top out and will not have to receive their wage increase as a differential
On-Call
- There will be one master on-call list covering both Maintenance and Property Management staff
- Maintenance will continue to have both a Primary and Secondary on-call employee
- Property Management will have a Primary on-call employee only
Holidays
- Added Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a new paid holiday
- Instead of December 26 being a designated holiday, employees will receive an additional floating holiday that you can use when you choose to
- Employees who work on a holiday will now receive double-time pay, instead of time and a half. In exchange for the higher premium, the separate $75 holiday compensation payment will be eliminated
Positions
- Created a new Procurement and Contract Specialist position
- Eliminated the following currently unfilled positions
- Apprentice Maintenance Specialist
- Apprentice Housing Specialist
- Resident Services Specialist
- Combined the Property Manager and Assistant Property Manager positions
Message sent to OPEIU Local 8 dues-paying members at Pierce County Housing Authority on August 3, 2026