County Commissioners snub County Employees on their negotiated raise

Plus

Whitehead announces that County Employees won't get a raise in fiscal year 08/09

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Pensacola 6/19/08 - In good faith the ATU met with County representatives in the beginning of June and followed the request of the Public Employee Relations Commission (State of Florida) to try and reach a settlement.  It was the ATU who said - All we want from our filed unfair labor practice against the County is a up or down vote on the 3% across the board Memorandum of Understanding which was negotiated in good faith and signed in good faith.

At the County Commissioner meeting on Thursday night the Union expected to get that vote.  In stead the County had other plans.  First they kept the vote off the internet by waiting to make the vote an add-on to the agenda, approving it Thursday morning.  Many County employees thought the vote had been cancelled.  "They did this on purpose, to keep employees confused", states Union President Mike Lowery.  Next they actually had a different agenda for the vote.  The add-on paper being passed out at the meeting stated the Commissioners were going to either vote for A).  A 2% across the board wage increase and a 1% merit increase on employees anniversary if they meet evaluation standards OR B) A 3% wage increase across the board for all bargaining unit employees.

"They couldn't even vote on "A" because it has never been negotiated with the Union, they think they can just do what they want", remarked Lowery.  "PERC (Public Employees Relation Commission) was not looking for them to vote on something that was never negotiated".

Union President Mike Lowery stood up as the lone speaker on behalf of the workers.  Commissioner Valentino stated that only 24 workers were present.  The Union took a head county and 64 County employees were supporting the ATU effort.  Lowery gave the history showing that the County and ATU negotiated the 3% across the board wage increase in August 2007 under a contract that had been expired since September 2005.  Lowery pointed out that the Union gave up items during the wage negotiations to get the across the board increase.  He pointed out that the law requires a signed tentative agreement between the ATU and County was to be voted on.  Plus he showed that it was not about the 3% at all, it was about "back-dooring" a merit wage system that the County couldn't get at the negotiations table. 

County Commissioner Mike Whitehead immediately motioned to accept "A" proposal and stated that he supported it in September 2007 and he supports it now, ignoring the principal of good faith negotiations.  He looked confused calling the wage increase for ECAT employees and acting like the raise was not for County employees.  Commissioner Robinson stated money was tight and the budget took a hit.  Lowery noted that the money was there.  The 3% is budgeted and even during negotiations the County representative stated every employee was going to get the 2% across the board and the 1% merit.  President Lowery said "tell the truth Commissioners this is not about the 3%, it's about getting the merit system back in the ATU contract without negotiating it with the ATU".  Whitehead then confirmed it by stating "Face it we're going to have the merit system and I support it".  At that point Whitehead added "County employees aren't getting any raise for the upcoming fiscal year, ZERO".

The Commissioners voted 5-0 in favor of the 2% across the board wage increase and the 1% merit wage increase.  "They are so lost, we're going tommorow we'll contact PERC and move our unfair labor charge forward" states Lowery.  Plus he added "The Commissioners just forced this process through the summer or even the fall."

Commissioner Kevin White stated "I just can't get non-union employees a 2% and union employees 3%".  While Vice President Cliff Rooker noted that the Commissioners acted like they were dealing with ECAT employees even though our President listed the departments that the County employees came from, they noted we should get the same as non-union employees, well they have their raise already while we don't, and to say we won't get a raise for fiscal year 08-09, well ECAT employees are getting 4% across the board scheduled for October 1st plus their scheduled for 4.5% also for October 1st, 2009 as well, sounds like being an ECAT employee would be nice now, at least their Management negotiates in good faith."

Lowery states - what's next?  The Union is going foward with the unfair labor charge and actually thinks the County has a problem moving to impasse on wages.  Lowery also states that its time to get employees involved.  The Union is considering a rally at the County building in two weeks.

Watch this site for more details.

GO TO PRESIDENT MIKE LOWERY'S LINK ON LEFT COLUMN TO VIEW THE ACTUAL VIDEO OF THE MEETING - GO TO TIME OF 1:17:23 TO SEE IT.