Labor Impasse in Lompoc
Here in Manteca, we have the good fortune of not having any expiring labor contracts during these uncertain economic times. Most of the cities currently renewing contracts are in contentious negotiations, as it is difficult to put together new agreements when the economy is still struggling and the state continues to consider more takeaways of local government revenues.
Here's the latest from Lompoc, which is wrapping labor contracts with all of their bargaining groups:
More than a year of negotiations has ended in an impasse between the city of Lompoc and its police officers.
As a result, during the City Council meeting tonight, city staff will recommend imposing several changes upon employees of the police department, including a 5 percent pay cut and reductions in health-care benefits.
“All those terms and conditions are exactly the same as agreed to by the Teamsters, the firefighters, and every other employee of the city,” Human Resources Director William Yanonis said.
The fruitless negotiations between the city and the police association had included 12 formal meetings, eight contract rejections, and a round of mediation with state officials, said Yanonis. He said the specifics about the negotiation impasse would first be reported to the City Council during a closed session meeting today, before his public report during the public meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
Click here for the entire article.
As I've noted many times, Manteca's issues are everybody's issues these days. While it is easier to blame our budget problems on local decisions and local conditions, this is a worldwide recession which has been particularly brutal to just about every government agency in this country and beyond. We have to make decisions at the local level as to how we adjust, but we can do very little at the local level to change our economic circumstances--we just have to change how we do business to deal with our economic realities.
There continues to be a number of cities that believe they can tax themselves out of this budget crisis. Santa Rosa is the latest city to float revenue enhancements as a way to fix their budget (click here for article). I've yet to find a city that has been able to convince their City Council to even ask the electorate for more money right now. I'm sure they will find out that their local businesses and residents are already stretched too thin, and a tax increase would not be welcome--we are just going to be expected to tighten our belt, just like everybody else.
Here's the latest from Lompoc, which is wrapping labor contracts with all of their bargaining groups:
More than a year of negotiations has ended in an impasse between the city of Lompoc and its police officers.
As a result, during the City Council meeting tonight, city staff will recommend imposing several changes upon employees of the police department, including a 5 percent pay cut and reductions in health-care benefits.
“All those terms and conditions are exactly the same as agreed to by the Teamsters, the firefighters, and every other employee of the city,” Human Resources Director William Yanonis said.
The fruitless negotiations between the city and the police association had included 12 formal meetings, eight contract rejections, and a round of mediation with state officials, said Yanonis. He said the specifics about the negotiation impasse would first be reported to the City Council during a closed session meeting today, before his public report during the public meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
Click here for the entire article.
As I've noted many times, Manteca's issues are everybody's issues these days. While it is easier to blame our budget problems on local decisions and local conditions, this is a worldwide recession which has been particularly brutal to just about every government agency in this country and beyond. We have to make decisions at the local level as to how we adjust, but we can do very little at the local level to change our economic circumstances--we just have to change how we do business to deal with our economic realities.
There continues to be a number of cities that believe they can tax themselves out of this budget crisis. Santa Rosa is the latest city to float revenue enhancements as a way to fix their budget (click here for article). I've yet to find a city that has been able to convince their City Council to even ask the electorate for more money right now. I'm sure they will find out that their local businesses and residents are already stretched too thin, and a tax increase would not be welcome--we are just going to be expected to tighten our belt, just like everybody else.
posted by City Manager @ 7:36 AM
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