Wondering how making Local 7 workers take six layoffs helps the General Fund…Court dismisses TPPA – Updated!
AFSMCE Local 7 is the largest city union, with a membership of around 900, yet only 150 of the positions held by members of Local 7 are paid for from the General Fund. With the Blade reporting some of the tentative agreement that members of Local 7 are voting on today, (link) this part made me wonder:
The union and the city reached a tentative agreement last week that, if approved, will require employees to pay 3 percent of their pension premium through Dec. 31.
The city would resume paying the full 10 percent of the employees’ share of the pension premiums on Jan. 1, 2011.
The agreement also requires the union to take six layoffs, and spread retirement payouts for employees retiring this year over a three-year period.
Making the almost 750 other members of Local 7 take layoffs won’t help the General Fund at all, it’s not clear if the layoffs would just apply to those positions funded from the General Fund but it appears as it is written that it would impact all of the members. Nor will that help the pension aspect for the same reasons and the City can not take money from the other funds, such as those related to operations of the water department to use for General Fund expenses.
Update 7:00 a.m. – it was a question of the wording – it was not “require the union to take six layoffs” as in the whole union but as in six members.
In other news related to the City and Unions, the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association was in Lucas County Common Pleas Court earlier today asking that the Court reconsider their position that the Court had no jurisdiction in their complaint filed against the City. Mayor Mike Bell is expected to have a press conference at 3:00 p.m. on the ruling handed down by Judge Jensen, the press release announcing that stated:
Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge James Jensen today granted the City of Toledo’s motion to dismiss a preliminary injunction requested by the Toledo Police Patrolmen’s Association, citing lack of jurisdiction and again advising the TPPA to take the matter to the State Employment Relations Board for resolution.
Updated 8:03 p.m. with additional release from the office of Mayor Mike Bell:
Mayor Responds to Common Pleas Court Ruling
Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge James Jensen today granted to City of Toledo’s motion to dismiss a preliminary injunction requested by the Toledo Police Patrolmen’s Association citing a lack of jurisdiction and again advising that the matter be taken to the State Employment Relations Board for resolution.
The decision brought a conclusion to the hearing, which started only after a meeting where the City and TPPA were unable to come to agreement on a package that fit taxpayer needs and financial means. The TPPA turned down the City’s offer and declined to take package to their members for a vote.
“Again, we appreciate the work Judge Jensen did to research this issue and the decision he came to, based on the facts, reinforces the City’s legal position, but this does not in our mind resolve the matter,” said Mayor Bell. “We still need to maintain the ability to pay our officers and to keep the staffing levels of the force in tact to meet our budget challenges while ensuring the safety of our city.”
The city has reached agreement with Firefighters Local 92 and AFSCME Local 7, and productive negotiations continue with the Fire Chiefs with a resolution expected to come this week. Council has scheduled a special meeting to reverse the exigent circumstances ordinance as applied to the AFSCME unit and the Fire Chiefs should their members approve memorandums of understanding this week.
A 3% contribution to the pension pickup and then back to full level next year along with the increases in the contracts in out years negotiated last year means that they are going from the frying pan into the fire. A lot of us can see the train wreck and absolutely no one seems capable of heading it off.
This is just plain crazy – do they just expect money will start growing on trees? Going from one year to the next without a plan let alone a clue as to where they are headed is certainly no way to run the city or county or schools.
Good point on the furlough days Lisa – just what do they gain from this except everyone joining in on the pain?
April 19th, 2010 at 3:44 pmNo one will tell us the hard truth . Out here in the real world , no one gets away with others paying their pension, especially in hard times ..
April 19th, 2010 at 10:18 pmIf Mayor Bell truly feels that exigent circumstances needed to be declared so he could force budget cuts within some of the city unions, here’s a new (or not so new) idea;
TAKE A PAY CUT, Mike. Rescind all the raises you gave within 1 Government Center…
After raises go away, take the same percentage of a cut you are imposing on the rank and file city worker.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to actually force your precious firefighters to take a cut, OR throw out the ludicrous mandatory overtime staffing clause they have in their contract.
April 20th, 2010 at 6:44 amIs clearer today – six members of the almost 900 member union will have to take a layoff.
Though I’m sure it doesn’t make the six feel great that the rest of their membership voted to lay them off.
April 20th, 2010 at 6:59 amI agree with Steve, we’re heading straight for a train wreck. We’ve basically been set up to have an even worse fight next year to balance the budget and we’re going to hear more of “but we took cuts last year and the city agreed to it so they must be able to do it”
Also has anyone heard what’s going to happen to the magical $600,000? Is it going to be saved for a rainy day or is it just going to get squandered and lost?
April 20th, 2010 at 8:04 amI hope voters don’t suffer from short term memory loss at the polls. I will not be voting to allow the temporary tax money to be used to pay for these negotiations.
April 20th, 2010 at 9:01 amThe majority of the general public is suffering with job loss, hours being cut, paying more for health insurance premiums, and contributions to our pensions.
Personally you have to make cuts in the “operating budget” of your life to exist and it is difficult but necessary to survive.
The government employees are short sighted in their approach if they think we (the government) are going to accept this folly.
Bell kicked the problem to next year by approving the city pick up the ful pension costs in 2011. And the city will go through the same budget pain as we did this year. I have a feeling Bell will create a new tax to pay for the shortfall.
April 20th, 2010 at 12:08 pmthisjustin-
Guess what, I bet the citizens will have that memory lapse.
How many remember that Bell wouldn’t answer the most basic question about whether or not he would raise taxes back during the primary…
Look at what we got. I guy who grins like a chesire cat at a reporters question, then basically tells you to suck it up when times get tough.
Share the pain, Mike.
April 20th, 2010 at 2:37 pmI can only assume that the adminstration’s strategy is to get temporary concessions in hopes that the economy recovers, eventually causes more local employment, and finally results in some restoration of general fund income.
This comforting notion may have been a necessary part of discussions with bargaining units.
However, the push to pass issue 5 suggests that those inside government center desire more taxpayor-based “relief” to take some pressure off of the general fund budget.
The structure of issue 5 offers a “shopping list” of “benefits” which appears designed to appeal to enough voters to get it passed. It looks like a shameless appeal to various segments of the population–”vote for this issue, and you’ll get to avoid the pain.”
Well, the pain is real enough among the vast majority of Toledo residents, who are not getting “free passes” from cuts to incomes, cuts to benefits, and increased obligations to contribute to their health insurance and retirement programs. Oh, and by the way, are also being expected to pay additional fees and/or taxes to enable the municipal government to avoid the same pain.
The great promise of Mayor Bell’s administration was that it would govern as if it didn’t wish to be re-elected. This would allow the Mayor to make serious, lasting structural changes in the city’s operations and budget.
Let’s see if he can live up to this great potential. The time to start is now . . .
April 20th, 2010 at 2:59 pmHenri #8 wrote: “Look at what we got.”
You don’t even live in Toledo, but thanks for thinking of us.
As someone who lives in Toledo, this vote worrys me a lot.
The city workers take a cut, but I bet the cops land on their feet, which will make the city workers really upset. That’s a smart move by the cops, and I bet they get a much sweeter deal.
Expect to see slow moving city workers in the future.
== Ken ==
April 20th, 2010 at 7:42 pmI do live in Toledo. I pay taxes, and I pay more than city workers pay for health insurance and towards my retirement. This is true for all of my fellow employees.
I suggest, Ken, that city workers need to understand that this issue is not about competition among bargaining units at government center. And the people who “employ” you and pay for your services expect all of you to understand that.
Voters will only get angrier and less understanding if we are greeted with “slow moving city workers in the future.” Remember that you have better benefits (health insurance and retirement) than many city residents who you expect to support you.
A slow down or more “blue flu” only makes it less likely that voters will support you. By the way, you may think that voters don’t sympathize now, but when they start to put even more pressure on the elected folks because of their outrage, I think you’ll see how bad it can get.
I suggest that you take a breath, and then, like it or not, recognize that you are being expected to do what most private sector employees already do–pay more for your benefits and retirement.
April 20th, 2010 at 8:30 pmExcuse me Chuck,
April 21st, 2010 at 6:10 amWhat does “out here in the real world” mean? How much blood, excrement and vomit do you see in your real world? Do parents kill their babies in your real world? Kids kill kids for no reason? Does your real world include getting spit on, assaulted, or shot at? In your real world do 80% of your consumers pay nothing for your services?
Does your real world include working nights weekends and holidays with no summer vacations? Did they order you back to work during the riot?It’s a different job.
Candidate Bell said a contract is a contract, mayor Bell is someone else.
This morning we learn that the new deal apparently defers many so-called savings to next year. Frankly, I can’t figure out why the Blade even called some of the items “savings” since they weren’t permanent, sufficient, or real–it’s not a savings if the actual agreement promises a refund once the voters pass issue 5.
The Bell Administration has some serious explaining to do before my confidence in them will be restored.
For Shadow and Ken Tyrone I point out my comment in #11 and remind you and the rest of us that you applied for the jobs you have and that there are many Toledo residents who will gladly apply to replace you. Check out how many signed up to take the police exam if you don’t believe me.
Safety workers do critical and sometimes wonderful things. So do many others. We all need to adjust to difficult economic realities–this includes you.
April 21st, 2010 at 7:22 amReally? And that is different how? Any slower and it will be reverse. I guess that means they will sabotage instead of work if they were to go any slower. Of course this is just a sarcastic barb to the pervasive view that city workers are notoriously slow anyway.
April 21st, 2010 at 8:57 amRub:
“that you applied for the jobs you have and that there are many Toledo residents who will gladly apply to replace you. Check out how many signed up to take the police exam if you don’t believe me.”
That must explain the other 3,300 people at the exam with me. Fact is they haven’t hired and we have been short staffed to save money. Think your safety and security is their priority? They know the mass exodus is coming in 2011, but haven’t hired replacements, much less started the training process.
April 21st, 2010 at 4:02 pmThink of this; your mortgage company had a “bad year”, so they tell you to pay $600 more a month for your house. You respond, but I signed a mortgage contract! Oh, exigent circumstance! Get it? But the loan officer got a raise, and 20 others got promoted. How exigent is that?