We contend that long-term reductions in employee benefits are not a proper response to a short-term economic downturn
. Instead, long-term structural changes should build more efficient delivery of quality city services:
- Better oversight over expensive out-sourcing
- Bringing more work in-house where it’s more accountable to taxpayers and residents
- No job should ever be contracted out because a city employee is furloughed or laid off
- Better debt collection
“City leaders seem detached from the reality of how a city works, how municipal government is supposed to function, and how to promote productivity gains in the work that we do. But we, as your negotiators, are as interested as the CAO in the City’s interests. We also have employees’ interests at heart.”
–
– Kris Flaig, Environmental Engineering Associate III
The City has yet to submit a counter-proposal on non-economic issues, which we pressed for at the bargaining table Wednesday.
We’re preparing our own formal counter, which we expect to present next week. We’ve requested the data on which management based their calculations of savings from their proposal, to make sure the figures are accurate.
The City’s proposal did not address layoffs. We continue to push for the remaining layoffs in both MOUs to be rolled back.
The next bargaining dates: July 14 and 21.
While we negotiate a new contract our current MOU still stands.
The City Goes Back to the Drawing Board on Furlough Plans
The Mayor in a letter July 2 to the heads of all city departments retreated from the CAO’s plan for prorated furloughs of positions funded by more than one source. Read the Mayor’s letter.
The letter called for updated furlough plans to be submitted to the CAO by Tuesday July 6. Click here for the letter. We continue to demand updated furlough plans from the CAO and will provide updated news when we receive more information.
We continue to demand a budget analysis from the CAO about the effect of furloughs on city services and staff. We continue to oppose furloughs as unnecessary and illegal service cuts that will only harm city residents and taxpayers who deserve and pay for the services that protect public safety and enhance the quality of life in Los Angeles.