Letter to the Editor

History of city negotiations

I feel as a City employee, who is in the union, I must say something. Circa 2004, the employees approached the council with the issue of wages and the fact that they had not changed, plus the fact that we were behind something on the order of 8% (memory) in the cost of living. As the City did not want a union to enter into the fray, they offered to give us half of the cost of living we were behind in that year, and the rest the following year, plus a wage study was authorized. That year all went well, sort of. The employees did in fact get a around half of the COLA as promised, and the wage study was performed.

The following year, the City reneged on their deal, and refused to pay us the rest of what they told us they would, citing the usual “we have no money, but you are wonderful, and we love you, couldn’t do it without you. Come see us

next year.” Having grown weary of the run-around and broken promises, 24 (I think) of us requested representation from IBEW 1547. At that time, Robert Prunella was the City Manager. Bob was a businessman by trade, had a decent head on his shoulders, and was fair and Honest for

us (union members) to deal with. We were able to come to a contract that benefited both

us and the City in quick order.

After Bob, came Tim Rooney. Tim was not from here, but he had enough common sense about him to know

that a happy employee is a good employee. Again, we had

no trouble getting a contract

that benefited us and the

City. After Tim Rooney left, the reigns were handed over

once again, and the trouble started.

First delay after

delay followed excuse after excuse. When negotiations were entered into, they were never productive, and confrontational. This

attitude has continued since the last contract was to expire (about three years), and has finally brought us to where we are today. Please understand that we do not wish a strike, and that this benefits no one. I am a City Employee who is a Union member. I am not an avid fan of the Union, that is not a secret. However I am very certain that without the union, ALL CITY EMPLOYEES would not be where they are today in both wages and benefits.

Wayne McHolland