A city union that faced the prospect of seeing three junior public works employees laid off opted this week to cut a deal instead.
Several city officials said that rather than watch a trio of painful layoffs, Local 1338 of Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Muncipal Workers agreed to give up the 1. 8 percent pay hikes that its members were due to receive in the coming fiscal year.
The decision means the city's $170.8 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 won't include any layoffs.
The concessions by Local 1338, which represents many of the municipal employees who normally work outside, erased the need for layoffs entirely, the officials said.
Mayor Art Ward said repeatedly in recent weeks that he hoped the unions would agree to concessions so that nobody would be laid off, particularly when so many young workers are struggling to raise small children and make a home for them.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Like I said before. It was all a ploy for re-election and Ward will NOT lay off anyone...no matter what...in an election year. I bet my house on it in an earlier blog and I guess I was right afterall. Home Sweet Home
ReplyDeleteWhat are the airators on the BLVD costing us?
ReplyDeleteThat really sucks for the other union that gave up 3%. Sure bet they would have liked to vote no and get a better deal by holding out longer. Where else can you vote more than once? Unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteHow much of you big mouths offered to give to the city ?
ReplyDeleteUnion Ward Ploy - maybe his next lawns signs shoue read: Vote for me and get screwed.
ReplyDelete10:20 AM,
ReplyDeleteBetter clear it with your nurse before you make one of those signs. I'm sure they don't have a problem with you using crayons, but the signs do have a pointy stick on them and I get the feeling they don't let you handle sharp things.
Truth hurts doesn't it, whine?
ReplyDeleteThe firefighters were not part of the concessions because their contract is in arbitration right now. We'll see what happens.
ReplyDeleteWhen will the people wake up and see through Ward?
ReplyDelete"Truth hurts doesn't it, whine?"
ReplyDeleteI guess it probably would if it was the truth.
12:33 PM: Well, we can see through you pretty clearly! Transparent as glass!
ReplyDeleteUnion hacks finally got the message?
ReplyDelete1:15
ReplyDeleteAnd the people WILL see through Ward!!!
How come this Mocabee and CC aren't saying here's some money we want to give to help the city out. Never happen they are to busy complaining about everything to be of any use!
ReplyDeleteReally amazing how the Mayor finds time to blog on here during the day when he should be working.
ReplyDeleteWhere are the Republicans, the Republican Party?
ReplyDeleteto 11:17
ReplyDeleteWhat Republican Party?
Just call him blackmail Ward. He's going to show the public that he's not in bed with the unions by blackmailing them into giving back raises our he's going to lay off. He's not about saving money, he's about getting re-elected.
ReplyDelete