Brothers and Sisters,

I wanted to give everyone a quick update regarding the seniority issue involving the Winter Park District.

I, Robert Fugate, as Secretary-Treasurer of CWA Local 3176, am working with Terry Redman and Shelly Castro to address this issue with the Company through a clarification MOA.

The goal is to make sure the contract reflects what has always been understood and followed in practice: employees in the Winter Park District should receive 50% credit for prior non-union Company time toward union seniority, consistent with what we understood during bargaining when 3176A was brought into the new combined Local 3176 contract.

This is what we understood the agreement to mean, and this is what the membership voted on and approved when we approved the tentative agreement for the new combined contract.

The issue now is that there appears to be a loophole in the Company’s interpretation and process. This issue dates back to the inception of 3176a, back in 2012, but was not brought to light until a recent grievance situation earlier this year. It's a technicality, and is solely an interpretation by the company in the text of that article. We are working to clarify and formalize the language, so there is no confusion going forward.

This is not an attempt to change what was agreed to. It is a clarification MOA process to put in writing what has already been understood and practiced.

We are actively working on scheduling meetings with the Company to get this resolved and will keep everyone updated as the process moves forward.

In Solidarity,

Robert Fugate

Secretary-Treasurer

CWA Local 3176

219.299.5302