Unions make pitches to council as budget time nears

Why do city unions continue to settle for meet and confer when they have a constitutional right that would lead to a binding master agreement?  Anyone who is confused should go to: http://www.moga.mo.gov/const/a01029.htm.
 
By ANDREW DENNEY
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Columbia Tribune


Public-sector unions representing city employees are continuing to work through the "meet-and-confer" process to secure better working conditions for the employees they represent as the Columbia City Council begins talks on the fiscal year 2013 budget.

Unions representing city police officers and electrical workers met with the council last week to present their proposals. The Columbia Fraternal Order of Police is keeping its demands small: Members are asking for a parking space in the city parking garage at Fifth and Walnut streets that could be used to reward officers for exceptional performance on the job.

"It's a very low-cost way to boost morale in the department," Columbia Fraternal Order of Police Executive Director Ashley Cuttle told the council on May 21.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2 — which has been designated as the bargaining unit for the city's electrical workers but has no dues-paying workers in Columbia — is asking for the city to allow the union to begin a "fair share" program in which electric workers who do not pay dues to the union have a portion of their paychecks withheld by the city and that withholding is paid to the union.

David Desmond, a business manager for Local 2, said the proposal would ensure that the union would be properly reimbursed for its representation of Columbia Water and Light Department employees.

"We feel that if they're going to get the benefits of all these services, they need to pay their fair share," Desmond said in an interview. According to a Local 2 staffer, 71 of 104 Water and Light employees voted in favor of establishing a fair share system. Desmond said if a fair share system is established, non-dues-paying employees would be able to apply to have a reimbursement of their fair share dollars that the union spent on political campaigns.

At the meeting with the council, Fourth Ward Councilman Daryl Dudley asked if the fair share system amounts to a "closed shop" for city workers. Desmond said it would be considered a closed shop if the city had to hire workers exclusively through the union.

Columbia Professional Firefighters is asking for the city to allow firefighters to see their scores on the written portion of the Columbia Fire Department's promotions exam. Brad Fraizer, president of Columbia Professional Firefighters, said allowing firefighters to see their written test scores would allow them expanded opportunities to rise up through the ranks.

The city has been receptive to the firefighters' proposal, and Margrace Buckler, director of the city's Human Resources Department, said the city staff is in the process of writing up a proposed ordinance to the council to allow firefighters to see the written test scores. Buckler said preventing the disclosure of the test scores has been "past practice" for the city.

On June 8 and 9, the council will hold its annual retreat at the Activity & Recreation Center, 1701 W. Ash St. The city manager's office typically releases a proposed budget in the weeks after the council's retreat. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Reach Andrew Denney at 573-815-1719 or e-mail akdenney@columbiatribune.com.