AEE Director's Meeting
Hello everyone,
AEE met with Director Strickler and members of his executive team on Monday July 14th 2025, to discuss layoff alternatives as required by our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Our proposals included all of the options already listed in our CBA, along with some high level data input from our anonymous survey. AEE was very clear that we didn’t expect these ideas to stop layoffs but that they would lessen the impacts to reduce how many members would receive layoffs.
Director Strickler’s immediate response was that he didn’t have the authority to implement some of the proposals and the other proposals would need to be considered more closely. AEE was promised that the leadership team would quickly determine who had the authority to discuss the proposals and the ideas brought forward by the union would be considered.
AEE was then kept waiting until Friday July 18 th 2025, to meet again with Director Strickler and members of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS). It was very clear from the start of the meeting that the promise we had been given was broken by Director Strickler. The first thing he said was again that he didn’t have authority on certain proposals and clearly had done no investigation to determine who did have the authority. The Director then said the savings from the other proposals wouldn’t be enough to pursue. No data was provided other than a few empty words that there wouldn’t be enough long-term sustainable savings. AEE is looking at all alternatives, and the savings from voluntary actions could save some coworkers from layoff. From all of the messaging provided by ODOT leadership the layoffs are occurring due to State funds being depleted, so people need to be shown the door ASAP.
It is clear the Director and team did not seriously consider the proposals, and they continue to drag their feet in meeting with AEE on what they say are time sensitive decisions, all the while continuing to claim they are partnering with AEE. A partnership isn’t inviting someone to a one-sided conversation and just telling them to go along with whatever is being put forward. We are tired of hearing how the Director is sorry for failing to partner with AEE, but does not follow through on correcting course.
The AEE Board continues to fight for the CBA and members rights to be upheld. AEE is holding a member meeting Tuesday July 22 nd from Noon -1pm. A separate email with the link (below) went out previously. Additional information will go out as we get it.
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Microsoft Teams Need help?
Meeting ID: 281 890 385 035 8
Passcode: q9kW322k
Dial in by phone
+1 332-249-0602,,454516051#
+1 332-249-0602,,454516051# United States, New York City
Phone conference ID: 454 516 051#
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In unity,
AEE