Take me out to the ballgame
Yogi Berra was credited with the observation “it’s like déjà vu all over again.”
So it is. Again, we the employees of Tempe find ourselves facing another difficult year; the fiscal crisis continues to batter the already depleted City coffers and now threatens further cuts, employee as well as services. However there is a distinct difference this year. Senior Management recognizes the undeniable value working class individuals provide the residents of Tempe. Perhaps the realization that services are, by and large, provided by “hands on” employees, not policy makers and middle managers, has attached itself to a recession fevered management team, and rightfully so.
Departmental consolidation dictates the release of a number of middle management positions, a recommendation documented and proposed by SEIU members and representatives for some time, and now seemingly finally realized.
The differences don’t stop there. If you as employees or residents have yet to attend a Budget Meeting, please do so, you will find them enlightening. During the Nov 4th meeting, City Manager Charlie Meyer discussed that Public Safety would not be exempt from the deficit driven cutbacks, a statement that many of us find difficult to believe, in fact very difficult to believe, when given historical evidence. But with the facts in place these predications seem inevitable and allow a small leveling of the playing field.
The condensed dialogue here does not do justice to an exceptionally complex issue but hopefully does allude to the actuality that we, working class women and men will not be the only responsible parties in this difficult time, as has been the case before. Participate in meetings; be vocal about your concerns and issues, support each other and your Reps, we need unity in times such as these…………….
- "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." Yogi Berra Hall of Fame 1972
Tempe Chapter Upcoming Events
Tempe Chapter General Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at Priest Yard - one at 5.30-7.30 am and another at 7-9 am.
The schedule for the rest of 2009 is: SEP 3 / OCT 1 / NOV 5 / DEC 3
Tempe City Council meets on the following Thursdays, with Issue Review at 6 pm and the formal council meeting starting at 7.30 pm.
The schedule for the rest of 2009 is: AUG 20 / SEP 10 / SEP 17 / OCT 8 / OCT 22 / NOV 5 / NOV 19 / DEC 3
Comments on 09-10 Contract
I suppose I had better preface the following comments as being my personal opinions, and may not be the opinions of all bargaining team or unit members. Having said that, my rant brings in focus the undeniable sacrifices SEIU members have willingly accepted to insure the continued employment of all Tempe employees. Market Survey adjustments were voluntarily relinquished in
January 09 saving approximately $1million, a sacrifice unshared by other Unions, step increases for the ensuing three years were no longer a benefit realized by SEIU members, again unshared by other Unions.
Now during SEIU negotiations we as a Union are asked to make choices that will leave all members in a deficit, for either continued health care subsidies, possible furlough or benefit reductions.
Throughout the process of cost reductions imposed by not only this City, but many other Municipalities, the line level, blue collar, common laborer, or whatever moniker one wishes to use, have born the brunt of realizing those reductions, Public service continues to take a back seat to Public safety.
Not only Public safety has been seemingly exempt from equal treatment, it appears that given extenuating circumstances, some City employee's are allowed reclassed job descriptions, providing substantial wage and benefit increases, advantages not available to “line level” employee's.
After a number of divisive issues that we as City employees endured several years ago, we collectively, all of us, had moved forward gaining an understanding we all provide value and innovation to the City and the residents we serve, equal in contribution.
Apparently we are now entering a new era, one defined by those who are worthy and those who are not. As much as I personally had hoped for equal treatment for SEIU members, the facts remain indisputable, we are viewed as expendable, children of lesser gods.
Contact your Representative or Bargaining team member, we need input and advice, we are sworn to represent your best interests and we cannot do so with out your direction, please hurry time is short...................
Tempe Members Likely to Avoid Layoffs
Tempe members' hard work building a voice for public service has paid off.
Reports today indicate that Tempe employees are likely to avoid layoffs due to an enhanced capital improvements bond that the SEIU members supported, as well as the voluntary retirement package that many employees are choosing.
Like so many other cities and counties, Tempe is going to have to make some cuts, but we are likely to avoid major impacts to jobs and services thanks to the hard work we've put in. The news is evidence that our strong voice makes a difference when we need it most.
The Arizona Republic reports on the success of the bond initiative program and the new budget:
Jerry Hart, the city's financial services manager, has said the reduction is due primarily to lower spending in the transit and wastewater programs, as light rail is now complete and progress has been made on the Johnny G. Martinez Water Treatment plant.
The city has maintained funding to continue renovating three parks per year. By voting to pass last year's bond program, Tempe residents have helped the city maintain funding for its capital improvements program.
The council has also tentatively adopted an operating budgeting totaling an estimated $404.4 million bringing the total budget for Tempe to an estimated $500.7 million. The operating budget has increased by about 1 percent over last year's budget of about $399.2 million.
Negotiations V
During the ongoing dialogue entertained with Management, there is a strong indication that dismantling the MOU as we have striven to assemble it, is a primary directive.
It is worthy to remember the culture that gave birth to principles that provided protection from unfair practices, a culture many veteran employee's may recall. Gaining some parity and representation was not an easy battle and solidified itself, after a number of years, in a SEIU negotiated contract. This contract may be in some danger.
Current management leaders would relieve the MOU of direct language, leaving such issues as Re-class and Job Descriptions to Labor Management and Supervisory staff discretion. Market Survey adjustments would be a thing of the past and possible Pay for Performance guidelines put in place, not to mention the 75th percentile.
The overriding view seems to surround the ability of Supervisors to make value judgments, act impartially, and follow ethic and moral standards, at times with no direction or limits put in place by the MOU. I am sure the majority of Management and Supervisory staff perform duties and obligations with these principles in mind, but that is not the issue.
We need strong language for those times when we are at risk, when Supervisors may not always follow “guidelines” or, may make judgments based on emotional responses or in the worst case, retaliation and punitive. We need language that would guarantee representation to allow us to provide the best possible service to user groups and residents. Those are the challenges ahead of us.
Governor, Legislature Finally Take Action on Budget
Jan Brewer has signed into a law a bill that sets up a raid on school districts' funds for the next fiscal year.
Some measures in the bill reflect reflect proposals from community organizations, such as payment delays for one day and accepting the stimulus dollars. The most troubling aspect, however, is the decision to force school districts to operate only based on cash reserves for the rest of the year.
State payments to K-12 districts will be delayed under this plan, but districts will be forced to compensate those payments from their own cash reserves.
The Arizona Republic reports that the plan is falling under bipartisan criticism:
Democratic opponents argue that the plan once more balances the state budget on the backs of schools and universities. Assistant Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios, D-Apache Junction, said the state plan to claim the school-district funding amounts to a "backdoor tax increase."
"The local-property taxpayer will make up 100 percent of the cash balance taken by the state," said Rep. Tom Boone, R-Peoria. Boone also is president of the Deer Valley Unified School District, and is one of two House Republicans to vote against the budget fix.
We can still expect more legislative movement on the budget in the weeks ahead, so be sure to keep up the pressure on the Governor and Legislature to do the right thing:
