As 2011 comes to a close, the OCPA wishes to thank its member organizations for their support.

We all know we are locked in a perpetual pushing and shoving contest with our opponents. Sometimes our opponents are our friend and we stand firmly together against a common enemy - strange as it might seem. It is not always clear who is friend and who is foe because that changes depending upon the issue at hand. However, organized INDEPENDENT Public Safety Associations have stood together and stood solidly, as one, for decades. We all come together under the umbrella of the OCPA.

2011 is in the record book now and it was a tough fight but all in all we did pretty well considering the economy. In many cases it was a win just to keep what you have. 2012 is not looking to be an improvement, yet. It is an election year both local and nationally. That means the outcome of the elections, which are at the end of 2012 will affect 2013 and beyond. So, we soldier on through 2012 standing firmly together as we have for so many decades.

The OCPA Executive Board recently authorized the change of location of our office. I have noted above the new office address on Market St. in Salem. This change is effective the date of this UPDATE. Our mailing address and phone number will remain unchanged.

June 2011 is the last month of the 2011-2013 Legislative session. I generally do not comment on our feelings on what has gone on in the session on this web site as a general rule. Our opinions and recommendations and updates to our members is not for public consumption. The information is intended for our paying member groups. If you are a member of one of our member groups (see list of our member groups on this web site) and are not receiving our weekly email updates during the legislative session you need to contact our EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and request that your personal email address be added to our mailing list. Having said that, I feel comfortable in saying that the onslaught of PERS Bills and Collective Bargaining Bills that we have been concerned about, in this legislative session, have not survived the process and died.

I do want to remind everyone that the Oregon Legislature will be meeting every year from now on. In 2012 and every even numbered year the Legislature will meet for one month in February. They will meet for 6 months in every odd numbered year. What this means is we must be more vigilant and spend more time preparing for more legislative sessions.

I invite any prospective member groups considering joining OCPA to review our legislative record over the past decade. The link to this record is in our Table of Contents. It is a record we are proud of and therefore post it for all to see. We will add our accomplishments for the current legislative session once it ends.

The short answer is BOTH! There is shared responsibility when it comes to the blame game for the public employees' labor contracts.

The operative word is "COLLECTIVE" in collective bargaining. Both sides give and take to reach a compromise agreement. Both sides are presumably taking into account the economy (cost of living), employer's ability to pay, comparable contracts, world situation and other relevant conditions at the time and in the reasonably predicted future.

If an agreement must be mutually reached in public sector contracts then WHY are only the labor unions under attack? Shouldn't MANAGEMENT also be under attack for what they ultimately agreed to? The question is rhetorical...of course they should!

But the management 'professionals' that negotiated and signed these mutually agreed to labor contracts, which spend the public's money, are laughing right now because the spotlight is not on them.

I say lets reveal who they are and go after them with the same zeal as the public employees are being vilified. Let's reduce their pay and benefits as equal penalty for their complicity in the collective bargaining process.

Everyone involved must be held accountable not just half of the players. Justice is about holding everyone who is responsible, accountable for their actions.

This is just my opinion.