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December 1, 2011 in City
City Hall union offers to freeze pay
Concessions don’t affect 5 percent raises in 2012
The leadership of Spokane City Hall’s largest labor union has made an offer that normally might be hard to refuse: Three years of frozen pay levels.
But it would leave a scheduled raise of up to 5 percent in place for some workers in 2012 and wouldn’t change employee benefits, prompting Mayor-elect David Condon to wonder if outgoing Mayor Mary Verner, who approved the tentative deal, is trying to shield city workers from tougher negotiating once he is sworn into office.
“These things normally go through a much more thorough process,” Condon said Wednesday. “It seems like a Hail Mary pass at the end of the term.”
Joe Cavanaugh, president of Local 270, said the proposal for a three-year pay-rate freeze is unprecedented. The change in leadership “wasn’t the primary consideration” for making the agreement, he said. Preserving jobs was.
“I’m trying to help solidify the budget,” Cavanaugh said.
Cavanaugh said the basis for the deal originates from concession talks the union held with administrators last year, which ended with no agreement being reached. Local 270, which is affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, represents about 1,100 city workers, including most water, sewer, garbage and street employees. Its membership makes up nearly half of the city workforce.
The current contract for Local 270 doesn’t expire until the end of next year.
The new proposal, which will be considered by union members for a vote next week, would extend the contract for an additional three years. The union would not get cost-of-living raises in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Other benefits would not increase or decrease. The offer would not change terms for 2012, when members with at least four years of experience will receive 5 percent raises.
If the cost to the city for paying medical insurance premiums rose by an amount that equaled 4 percent of the total cost of the contract, the deal would reopen. But city officials say it would take a premium increase of around 23 percent for that to happen. Budget Director Tim Dunivant said premiums rose by about 7 percent this year, 12.5 percent last year and didn’t increase at all in 2009.
Condon, who is in Boston this week for a mayoral training session sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, made City Hall compensation a major theme of his campaign, promising voters to be a tougher negotiator with city unions. Verner pointed to concession agreements made during her term and said being tough but fair proved fruitful in holding down costs.
In a written statement Wednesday, Verner called the proposal “an excellent deal for the long-term financial interests of the city.”
“I want to leave the city in great condition when my term concludes, and this agreement helps do that,” she said.
If the offer is approved by union membership, the Spokane City Council will have the final say.
Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin said given the quickness of the deal, it’s hard to believe that it includes the best terms the city could win through normal negotiations.
“They weren’t even at the table and suddenly a deal is struck with the mayor,” McLaughlin said. “It makes me think that they must be fearing a new mayor coming to town.”
But some council members said the deal appears to be in the best interests of the city.
Councilman Richard Rush said the contract would significantly impact the city’s “structural gap.” That’s the term administrators use to describe how forecasts continually predict costs rising faster than revenues.
“This seems to come very close, if not hit the mark, of achieving that goal,” Rush said.
Councilman Jon Snyder said he still has to study the details but isn’t too worried about extending a deal that would prevent Condon from making a deal himself.
“He’s romanticizing how fun it is to work on these labor deals,” Snyder said. “It may end up being a nice Christmas present for him.”
Chief Financial Officer Gavin Cooley said three years of frozen pay levels would have “a definite positive impact on the city’s finances compared to the increases we have typically negotiated.” But he added that the city has also worked hard to hold down the costs of benefits.
“As the recession has continued, most cities and states have begun making significant changes to their very generous employee benefit packages,” he said. “That opportunity is left on the table with this proposed agreement and that is something the council will have to take a hard look at.”
Closing Geiger: Wise or worrisome? 
Jethro_toll on December 01 at 12:41 a.m.
I think freezing their pay levels is a good deal for them, considering that most of the City Hall workers are performing at about half the level they should be. How productive can they be when they spend the first and last 30 minutes of each day talking to family long distance, blogging like Sgt. Torok used to brag about and discussing the personal lives of citizens that contact them.
Stand around outside City Hall and watch them scurry out early around 3 pm. Its time that a work time software program be installed on their computers that they password log in when they come to work and log out and that we track their hours. There is a lot of “looking the other way” by supervisors and coworkers when it comes to actually being there and doing work.
So why didnt Condon attend these “training to be a Mayor” classes prior to running as a “qualified” candidate for office? and is there a test at the end, inorder for us to grade his edumacation?
liberal_in_right_wing_land on December 01 at 1:02 a.m.
So the the boy wonder Condom going to keep the lower salary that Verner has, or is he going to take the full amount?
oneanddone on December 01 at 4:03 a.m.
Whenever a union says it’s not about the money - oh yeah - it’s about the money. This is subterfuge pure and simple. Lame ducks should never be able to commit the next administration to anything. If their policies were acceptable they would still be running things.
GSLFan on December 01 at 5:42 a.m.
Just say ‘no’. The union knows their salaries are already bloated and taking a ‘pay freeze’ is continuing to live high on the hog.
Queen Mary will try to lock in a deal for her cronies before she leaves. Let Condon come into the office and use the pay freeze as his base point going forward. Hell, it could be he can work a 5 to 10% reduction like the rest of the country is facing.
D Statler on December 01 at 6:51 a.m.
I would definately hold the 5% pay increases going out. I am pretty sure that they are aimed at the Police Guild. It is high time for Spokane’s government workforce to experience the same declines as teachers and the rest of the state employees do. Start with 1.9% and eliminate all flex days previously given. Thanks,but No thanks Mayor Verner :^( It appears we need to hire professional negotiators. Times are tough and call for tough negotiations to help.
jimvw2 on December 01 at 6:57 a.m.
Public employees earn their salaries and benefits. They are organized to negotiate the terms of their employment and these negotiations result in enforceable contracts. They are exercising their Constitutional right to free association when they do this.
They are also taxpayers, parents, caregivers for aging parents, PTA members, customers and spouses for many private sector workers. Did I mention taxpayers?
Those who are committed to attacking all government as part of some political misdirection ploy by corporate crooks and their millionaire lobbyists are hard at work. They spend billions trying to make you believe your neighbor is the enemy, that all government is privileged and wasteful. They want to divert your attention from the continuing raid on the Treasury by their billionaire clients.
Don’t fall for it like some of the weaker minded commenters on this BB have. Stay focussed on the real problems, getting corporate money out of our politics (93% of all elections in America are won by the candidate who spends the most money, regardless of experience or political affiliation), for instance.
Public workers, the last vestiges of our shrinking middle class, are not our enemies. They are just a convenient target for the corporate shills who want you not to notice the CEOs and banksters who are buying our government and trying to turn it against us.
Wake up. Wise up. Your neighbors who belong to a union and work for the city or any other goverment for a living wage job are not the enemy. The billionaires club and their brain-dead functionaries are.
Get corporate billions out of politics with real campaign finance reform, restore Glass Steagel (separating banking and stock speculation), demand that our military get out of the nation-building business, and that our government invest in the infrastructuree to support manufacturing. That’s what will dig us out of this hole, not attacking the last group of living wage workers in your neighborhood.
Think about all of this before you call your neighbors names just because they work at city hall.
woamike on December 01 at 7:34 a.m.
jimvw2,
Is this “opposite” or subterfuge day?
You got nearly every thing bass ackwards.
Most public employees are living high on the hog in relation to the tax payers that supply their generous wages, benefits and pensions. If ALL the cards were laid out on the table for everyone to see, people would realize the true present and FUTURE costs of the various public “servants”, including those of the firefighters and police. They are HUGE and the elected officials of this town need to get them under control. They will break this city if not controlled now.
Don’t be fooled by offers of salary freezes. While most city salaries are over-generous, salaries are only the tip of the iceberg that you can see. The real danger is under the surface, out of sight and mind - right where the unions want to keep them.
wenric on December 01 at 7:37 a.m.
its the multiple years of 5% pay increases given to city employees that has put the city in this mess; thanks to the current mayor and city council.
How many of us in the private sector are getting 5% raises? the have 5% increases for the past 3 years. With this sweetheart deal on the way out the door, it will equate to 4 years x 5%=20% pay increase during the worst economic time in our living history- if that sounds like a fair deal then open your wallet cause your water rates are going up again!
MrBloggy on December 01 at 7:58 a.m.
State employee have been getting meat-axed for three years. And last time I checked hadn’t heard of any of them beating a mentally ill innocent janitor to death.
a 5% pay raise for SPD is a baton strike to the head of Spokane taxpayers. Nope.
greyhound2 on December 01 at 7:59 a.m.
The difference between private and public emloyee unions is that one has monopoly power, the other doesn’t. If Shell goes on strike, you can buy gas from Union and still run your car. If a public sector goes on strike, you can only go without.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 8:08 a.m.
From the standpoint of oversight and accountability the Police Guild contract is of the utmost importance and I’m not confident that the current administration actually has a concern for those issues. City Negotiators should be bargaining from the standpoint of what might be required if the SPD is subject to a Patterns and Practice review by the DOJ. There are many, many issues on which the city should stand firm even if it means taking the contract to binding arbitration. If the City rolls over like they have in the past and a contract is reached prior to the new administration taking office it would be nothing more then a vindictive hose job on the part of the current administration to make things more difficult for the next administration, while at the same time snubbing their collective noses at the citizens of Spokane.
johnclarke on December 01 at 8:14 a.m.
jimvw2 on December 01 at 6:57 a.m.
Don’t fall for it like some of the weaker minded commenters on this BB have. Stay focussed (sic) on the real problems, getting corporate money out of our politics (93% of all elections in America are won by the candidate who spends the most money, regardless of experience or political affiliation), for instance
Holy crap, now I’m weak minded. Rosy post there jimvw2, but don’t try and turn the public workers and unions into the heros that keep us all safe from corporate raiders. There is a reason they have become targets, and they bring it on themselves. Tell me, what kind of cuts did they suffer through the economic downturn? What is the median income in Spokane, compared to the median union city job? Does Spokane need like 12 Fire Captains at 110k a year? Are there no Union dollars in elections? Are there no Union dollars in the levys ?
The city unions are pretty darn good at protecting their own, thank you very much. Remember who they work for. Us.
SpokaneCan on December 01 at 8:14 a.m.
If any of you think that ALL City Hall employees are living the luxurious life, then you are completely misguided and delusional. About 90% of City Hall employees would be considered part of the MIDDLE CLASS. Quite honestly, in many of the professional level positions the wages offered here in Spokane are far below the competitive wage offered around the country. Stop using ALL City Hall employees as a scapegoat to get your frustrations out.
jimvw2 got it right.
SpokaneCan on December 01 at 8:15 a.m.
That being said, if you feel the need to attack the City unions, please direct it appropriately at the Police and Fire Unions.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 8:40 a.m.
@SpokaneCan
Okay, here is one for you. Does local 270 have a contractual agreement with the City that appeals of disciplinary actions go through a secret arbitrator process so that the public doesn’t ever know the details of the action, like the Police Guild has, or is the only appeal option for 270 members through the open and public civil service process?
Open_Spokane on December 01 at 9:04 a.m.
The concessions will mean absolutely nothing unless it’s coupled to freezing OVERTIME! Don’t be duped, if it sounds too good it’s probably just another scam by the City of Spokane.
Mayor Verner should couple her proposal to eliminating overtime. I would predict that this freeze proposal would be shot down in flames by employees. Because the overtime pay will be used to supplement the lost pay raises. Mayor elect Condon take note.
If pay raises are frozen, sick leave usage will skyrocket. More overtime will be paid out and it will end up costing the taxpayers more in the long run. For public safety employees it’s called the blue flu. A few years ago, Mayor Verner gave minimum staffing to some firefighters and the next year they averaged FORTY THOUSAND a year in overtime!
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/nov/06/spokane-fire-chiefs-overtime-soars/
Wake up Spokane.
princessdd on December 01 at 9:06 a.m.
Mayor Verner was also responsible for separating the city court and the county district court, and then expecting the voters to approve her plan to fund and build a new multi-million dollar city court complex for her newly appointed city judges, city court clerks and the rest of the duplicative city court support staff. If you have ever been to the District Court to pay a ticket, you will notice that there is a county side with windows and county clerks, and a city side with city clerks who sity at the city windows to collect money and set court dates for the city. The city clerks are paid almost double what the county clerks are paid to do the exact same job, thanks to the city having a stronger union and the mayor needing to build her voter base with city created and tax supported jobs. Almost twice as much to do the EXACT same job - how is that helping to keep costs down for the city or the result of “tough negotiations” with the city union?
Jethro_toll on December 01 at 9:38 a.m.
“The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest”. Albert Einstein
They have been compounding their 5% raises year after year for the last 20 years.
Why are non-college graduates like Dorothy Webster and Feist drawing $100k+ salarys?
Perhaps the Spokesman could do some good reporting and list just exactly WHO is making WHAT and their salary historys for the last 10 years or so in order that we may have an informed article.
avocet on December 01 at 9:46 a.m.
You’ll have to forgive me for thinking that this wage “freeze” smells like a crock of you-know-what. Last year, we received a 1.2% COLA. While I am grateful for any increase, the flip side is that open positions have gone unfilled due to budget problems, which means more work spread amongst fewer employees, which really amounts to a pay CUT when you think about it.
Not buyin’ the crapola for a second.
johnclarke on December 01 at 9:50 a.m.
SpokaneCan on December 01 at 8:15 a.m.
“That being said, if you feel the need to attack the City unions, please direct it appropriately at the Police and Fire Unions.”
How about ALL PUBLIC UNIONS ? Again, tell me how the public sector suffered through the economic downturn? What percentage got paid off?
“About 90% of City Hall employees would be considered part of the MIDDLE CLASS. Quite honestly, in many of the professional level positions the wages offered here in Spokane are far below the competitive wage offered around the country.”
Oh really? This is the standard shell game to justify wages and benefits that are not in line with the standard of living in the communities LIKE SPOKANE. I really don’t care what an employee makes in Portland or Bellevue. The fair measure is what is the median income here in this town. Point is, Mr. City Employee, I have seen my costs go up and up and up via taxes, water and sewer increases, EMS levys - you name it. The really odd thing? Property values keep falling.
RK on December 01 at 10:32 a.m.
When arguing the merits of contract negotiations within the city please bear in mind that 270 is a seperate entity from Fire and Police. The members of 270 in most part are the folks that plow your streets, pick up your garbage, fix your water mains and ensure you don’t get overrun with sewage. These are not over paid prima donna’s that milk the clock. They are the people covered in mud and asphalt fixing the streets and pipes, they are the folks who are out plowing snow for 12 hours straight 7 days a week, giving up holidays with their families, so you can drive to see yours ( and complain that they don’t work fast enough). Rate increases to public utilities are not due to salary increases, they are for maintaining infrastructure and meeting regulatory requirements.
johnclarke on December 01 at 11:23 a.m.
“These are not over paid prima donna’s that milk the clock”
Ok RK, I’ll keep that in mind. Can you post the pay scale for 270 employees please, and let everyone judge for themselves ?
deacon46 on December 01 at 11:36 a.m.
Say no. 5% is just plain stupid. No raises from now on until we get productivity and performance criteria into the contracts. And independent oversight of contract and employee performance. Lets have these folks work or at least harder for a living. A 5% reduction would be a good offer.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 11:50 a.m.
@Jethro_toll
Just to set the record straight; Marlene Fiest does have a journalism and political science degree from the University of Montana. Prior to being employed by the city she worked at The Journal of Business.
I don’t believe Dorothy Webster has a four year degree. I believe she was first employed by the City in an administrative capacity as the Director of the East Central Community Center and moved up the ladder from there ( I do like her by the way). But I am mad about recent developments at the ECCC.
In 2007 the SR did do some salary comparison work, and it would be nice to see some current stuff.
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=11952
@RK
Well it must be contract time! The blame game has already started. I’m not saying you are totally wrong in your post, but I will tell you this; as far as 270 members are concerned the SPD is way over staffed and several need to go.
SpokaneCan on December 01 at 12:05 p.m.
new day, new story. BUT, same people and same blah blah blah. When will you learn that City Hall employees are not the enemies. MOST of them just get up, go to work, DO THEIR JOB, and go home, likely driving a ford, to their families in their simple homes. They are also part of this community and contribute to it. How many of you would volunteer for a pay decrease?? really. think about that. I would accept one, but heck if I am going to raise my hand. And this is coming from someone who agrees that unions have gotten out of control and lost much of the intent as to why they were necessary in the first place.
SpokaneCan on December 01 at 12:07 p.m.
@ johnclarke,
I wasn’t talking about Bellevue or Portland, btw. Those wages are higher because of the cost of living. simple math.
D Statler on December 01 at 12:10 p.m.
@RK, There would be no need for tax increases and pay cuts if X-Mayor Verner and crew hadn’t raided the reserves to pay for past raises and unnecessary projects. I am sorry that local union workers are now in the target for cuts. Most state workers have given back pay and up to 10 furlough days. Most educators in Spokane have given concessions for the last three years. Local 270 is a valued asset to us. It is time to share some burden. Lets just hope that Mayor Condon can undo some of these honey deals to the guild and personal friends of past Mayors. Administrative compensation and staffing in all departments need immediate addressing also.I am sure that Local 270 has plenty of qualified leaders that will lead better for much less pay. We are in a hard time that requires hard decisions. Time to get it done.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 12:49 p.m.
@princessdd
You are absolutely right, and the back room on that was laughable. It was entirely political, and at a time when some consolidation made sense. There is no reason what so ever to separate the systems and it has made the costs explode when you factor in the employee costs.
Look at what we have now and compare those costs with the costs prior. How many new employees were hired, and what is the overall cost for a judicial review of a misdemeanor case for crying out loud (which is all the City of Spokane can bring). Now, compare that with when it was in District Court and what the City paid for their piece. I would suspect that there is very few that realize that according to law the City of Spokane must maintain a public defenders office to defend indigents in City criminal cases, which they do and they have some good attorneys in there. The problem is I want them completely independent from the City Attorney’s Office, and almost everyone of them would agree with that.
Orphan on December 01 at 12:57 p.m.
Well said John Clark.
RK on December 01 at 1:08 p.m.
@brianbreen ~ no blame game at all, just clarifying for other posters that 270 and departments that demand lot’s of overtime due to the nature of their jobs (ie; police/fire) were not the same union. The inferences being made were that if 270 were forced to take a pay cut they would simply create more overtime. For the record (not sure who posted about the fire departments OT) I have no problem paying taxes to have a fire fighter stay on scene and finish putting out my house fire if need be.
@johnclarke ~ this forum does not allow for the amount of space it would take to post this information however due to the freedom of information act you can contact the city information department and they will provide you with salary ranges, requirements, duties, and descriptions of any or all jobs in the city.
@undooly_prosecuted ~ you stated “Administrative compensation and staffing in all departments need immediate addressing also.I am sure that Local 270 has plenty of qualified leaders that will lead better for much less pay. We are in a hard time that requires hard decisions. Time to get it done.” So are you also being subject to a pay cut from your employer?? If so can you still meet your bills? Or should pay cuts just be for people who work hard for the public good?
liveinfearoftheSPD on December 01 at 1:30 p.m.
Put them all on salary. No OT. Required to do 8 hrs of work. If they don’t, dock them accordingly. Show the unions the way out the door. They have become too big, too greedy and too corrupt.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 2:16 p.m.
@SpokaneCan
I will offer this, every time the SPD gets a pay raise, so do I.. I’m willing to forgo that pay raise in the interest of developing what is most important in life, which some hopefully will learn.
Some time, why not realize it is a PRIVLIDGE to be a public employee, and with that privilege comes some responsibilities. The primary responsibility is to do the best for those you serve, not just get up and drive the Ford to work. So blah, blah, blah.. Why not stand up, and say, yep I have all the protections and a great job, far more then a lot of other people have. So instead of trying to convince the public how hard I work and how good I am, why not realize , I’ve got it knocked and I’ll go out and do my best just to keep what I’ve got.
In your position, it really doesn’t matter, so do what you have to do, is understand that it should not be us against them, them against us, any where in City Government
johnclarke on December 01 at 2:32 p.m.
SpokaneCan on December 01 at 12:07 p.m.
@ johnclarke,
I wasn’t talking about Bellevue or Portland, btw. Those wages are higher because of the cost of living. simple math.
I guess you missed my point entirely…if those places are paying their city workers more because of “simple math” then I guess they better stop using them for salary comparisions, wouldn’t you say?
“@johnclarke ~ this forum does not allow for the amount of space it would take to post this information however due to the freedom of information act you can contact the city information department and they will provide you with salary ranges, requirements, duties, and descriptions of any or all jobs in the city. ”
Heck, you could just tell us how much you get paid. No one knows who you are. Besides, I want to know the REAL figures with overtime.
johnclarke on December 01 at 2:38 p.m.
“SpokaneCan on December 01 at 12:05 p.m.
new day, new story. BUT, same people and same blah blah blah. When will you learn that City Hall employees are not the enemies. MOST of them just get up, go to work, DO THEIR JOB, and go home, likely driving a ford, to their families in their simple homes.”
Oh, sorry gotta call BS on that one. You keep pushing this point and I will provide a couple examples of $750,000 lakefront homes - man and wife employed by the city.
Listen pal, no one said city hall employees are “enemies”. I just think they get paid more than they should, out of (brace yourself) OUR FREAKIN TAX DOLLARS. That’s right. You go find a private sector job in Spokane with the same salary, medical and pension and then get back to us.
RK on December 01 at 2:59 p.m.
@johnclarke ~ first you want “270 salaries” now you just want mine? What difference does it make what one individual makes? If you want to bash the entire 270 then do the research, get the info and get a clue. Your highest paid city employees are fire and police (which seems fair to me, I don’t get shot at during my workday) and “at will” employees in the Management sector. Not the standard working individuals in the LABOR union 270.
“Oh, sorry gotta call BS on that one. You keep pushing this point and I will provide a couple examples of $750,000 lakefront homes - man and wife employed by the city. ”
– By all means PLEASE PROVIDE!!!!
brianrbreen on December 01 at 3:07 p.m.
@RK
As you know “the overtime game” is just that, a game, and good administration would take care of that and at the same time still be able to provide the public what they need. The overtime in the SPD and the SFD boils down to lazy administrators not willing to accept the responsibility of their huge salaries and people in the system who just take advantage of a system that perpetuates that.
You go back and look at the amount of time Williams and Kirkpatrick were out of town or not in the office trying to play the game and who had to do their dirty work. Then look at the Bat Chiefs, and the Captains or Majors who had to pick up their bosses slack. Who gets their face out there? Not the big bucks! Hell the media has a heck of a time trying to even get a hold of them, so some PIO or some other minion has to do it and gets the blame.
Please don’t give me that overtime BS., the only reason that would be a problem is because of damn lazy and self serving administrators.
RK on December 01 at 3:15 p.m.
@brianrbreen ~ again… the only reason I brought up fire and police in the first place was to point out that the acting Mayor submitted a proposal to freeze salaries for the 270 LABOR union that have NO CONNECTION WHAT SO EVER with fire and police. You and others on here are railing at the OT abuse by departments that are not part of 270. The “city hall union” that is referred to in the article is actually the 270 Labor union. Try getting some facts! Ignore the media bias that so far today has claimed everyone in the water department makes at least 60K a year and that all city employees just got 10% raises, it’s ALL CRAP designed to incite people and it is being very effective!
brianrbreen on December 01 at 4:02 p.m.
@RK
I never trust the media for facts. I try hard to get them myself. My point is the overtime game is just that, a game. A lot of that game has to do with the contract negotiations and how agreements are made with respect to staffing deployments. If you want to be a paramilitary outfit and all that goes with it, then here you go. A contract should contain a staffing deployment clause that allows an administrator to deploy staffing in the interest of public safety. That means, I put my people where I want them when I want them without regard to contract. So if I learn that “The_Seer” has booked Beiber, then I give a three day deployment notice and take who I need from where is the best for eight hours without paying over time.
The big problem with that scenario is that some administrator might have to get off their arse and figure out how to that in the public interest. Blah, Blah, Blah.
Spokane_Citizen on December 01 at 5:07 p.m.
Brian, one item needs to be made clear, none of the retirees from non-public safety bargaining groups (which include Local 270) get any upward retirement adjustments (as do you) when their former bargaining group succeeds in acquiring wage increases. Their pension is forever locked in at whatever it was when they retired. You LEOFF 1 boys got a sweet giveaway deal (including retiree medical, which subsequent groups don’t have…..all of which has contributed greatly to the dismal financial state of that capped retirement fund). In fact, the city’s general fund will have to cover whatever shortfalls continue to occur due to the poor bargaining efforts of that era’s various administrations when dealing with police and fire bargaining group negotiations.
D Statler on December 01 at 5:30 p.m.
@RK, Yes friend and union brother. I too have given back two days of service without pay in liew of a 1.9% cut.( I work for free for two days) We also have made concessions to keep jobs in our bargaining unit. My Insurance has climbed every year. My AVISTA bill has climbed every year. I have paid my bills with less.My thermostat is now set at 62. We do what we have to to survive.The kids are gone and my wife is forced to work now.I still love America :^) Thanks RK for doing the work your supervisors should be doing.
BTW: I have very good sources that the SPD will get 5%increases in a budget crisis year.This may have been what started the comments in the LOLLIPOP-GUILDS direction. I appologize for mixing the subject matter. Mayor Condon has a chance to get this right.Lets hope he keeps his campaign promises.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 5:40 p.m.
@Spokane_Citizen
I knew that was coming, and I’m the first to admit it. I’ve got it knocked, so I can sit back and give guys like you crap. LEOFF II came into existence because of abuses to the LEOFF I system. Keep this in mind though, I only paid into social security for the extra jobs I had and my military time, not for my cop job which was $354.90 a month starting. So at least these kids, if it’s still there, will get some social security besides their LEOFF II. It’s not as good as mine but the money is a hell of a lot better now, and if they are smart they can manage.
If it makes you feel any better, it won’t be long before the city won’t have to worry about a lot of the LEOFF I folks, except for me, I’m living for another 36 years.
BTW, when I went on the job it was pre LEOFF I, the old city retirement which wasn’t that great so retirement wasn’t my motivation. I get two checks one from the City and one from the State, and my SS check which only helps to pay my bar bill.
Which reminds me, did you know the SPD had one of their own on the cover of Life Magazine during Nam(a Lance Corporal)? One hell of a cop, loved people, tougher then crap, and he knew how to treat folks. Just a little wild like we all were back then.
Spokane_Citizen on December 01 at 5:42 p.m.
Undooly….if the SPD has a current contract that specifies a 5% increase this coming year (I don’t know if they do, or not) then it will occur. Mayor Condon won’t be able to simply ignore a contract that is in full force and effect. In fact, even after a contract has terminated, the current wage rates and benefits remain in place for at least a year (under PERC). A strong mayor is not a king that issues rules by edict….there are distinct legal limitations to their power. He should not, however, fall prey to the very real and serious threats of binding arbitration when negotiating with the public safety unions (as have all previous administrations). You do understand how that works, don’t you?
brianrbreen on December 01 at 5:51 p.m.
@Spokane_Citizen
One other thing, don’t blame me or us for that. Just because our negotiating team was twice as smart as the City’s and the City feel into every trap we laid doesn’t mean we were at fault. I remember even the arbitrator snickering about some of the stuff.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 5:54 p.m.
@Spokane_Citizen
Anyone that is afraid of binding arbitration is someone that just hasn’t prepared their case..
Spokane_Citizen on December 01 at 5:55 p.m.
Brian, I know well the background of the various LEOFF configurations (and the origin of binding arbitration), and I agree….the pay during the career of those officers was quite inadequate for many years. I also think your bargaining group leadership did a good job for its membership. It’s an obligation the city must continue to honor, if its word means anything.
If the wildly expanding costs of the retiree medical coverage associated with you guys is directly related to your probable lifespans, you oughta live at least another 40 years! And sincerely I hope you do….a lot of you did work several jobs to keep groceries on the table.
Spokane_Citizen on December 01 at 5:59 p.m.
@Brian….you know, as well as I do, that the city’s negotiators simply rolled over on so many things….due to their fear of binding arbitration. You know what I’ve written about it in the past.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 6:10 p.m.
@Spokane_Citizen
No question that has happened time and time again, mostly because they tried to negotiate from the standpoint of staying out of binding arbitration instead of doing like we did and negotiate from the standpoint of we are going to binding arbitration. This is the best time there has ever been for the city to say screw you, lets go. But they can’t do that unless they are prepared, and know what they want.
It’s kinda like okay you guys kicked our arse back then, but now we are going to start throwing.
spokanedorothy on December 01 at 6:35 p.m.
Just want to respond to the comments on this blog, and at least a previous one, regarding my educational credentials. I am responding to blog comments presenting false opinions, perceptions, perspectives, beliefs and assumptions regarding my educational credentials as if they are fact. Please know that I, Dorothy Webster, because of God’s grace, am in the possession of the following: an earned high school diploma from St. Elmo High School (which is now an elementary school), an earned bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) and an earned master’s degree from Washington State University( which is now Washington State University). I am sure either of these educational institutions will verify these facts for you. At one point in my post-graduate life - that’s life after the acquisition of my master’s- I was admitted to the University of Washington’s doctoral program but did not attend because of the lack of money. I don’t think the U of W would have admitted me if I had not had the requisite requirements for the program.
I learned in ninth grade civics that freedom of speech and expression is a right and privilege that should be exercised responsibly.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 6:51 p.m.
Dorothy,
Please note that I said I didn’t believe you had a degree. Probably because you never flaunted it, even though I always knew you were smarter than I am. Also note I said I like you, but I’m still mad about the deal with Diane and Sonya, see to it that’s taken care of will you from a criminal standpoint.
Did you or did you not start out at the ECCC?
Spokane_Citizen on December 01 at 8:00 p.m.
Brian, I will tell you one thing; Dorothy Webster is the real deal….an honest and ethical administrator….a straight-shooter. She doesn’t deserve disrespect or abuse. She’s no more responsible for recent ECCC transgressions than you are for current SPD problems.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 8:18 p.m.
@Spokane_Citizen
Never said she was responsible, and I like her, great gal. Like I said didn’t know she had a degree she never flaunted it. Heck she even used swear words a couple of times.
I do know, she does have some influence with respect to the ECCC thing, and I also know we would disagree on how it should be handled. But as Frank would say “That’s Life”.
Just let me know when the audit comes back from the state, the media will forget but I won’t. Just want to know how deep it was then go from there.
Spokane_Citizen on December 01 at 8:27 p.m.
@Brian….you’re a good man, and I’m glad Spokane has citizens like you….I know you truly care about the little burg we call home.
brianrbreen on December 01 at 8:36 p.m.
@Spokane_Citizen
As nutty as I am, that I do!
BTW, Dorothy is the one that talked me into being Santa, and if she has the ability to talk a guy like me into doing something like that she would be an asset to anyone.
japacb on December 01 at 11:51 p.m.
Just an FYI. The 270 represents LABOR employees, again remember that these are the people who you would miss terribly if they were not doing their jobs, and they are doing the jobs every day that you would not do (sucking poop out of pipes, filling those huge potholes in sub-zero or frying-hot conditions). Also remember, that there is nothing the city can do about their overtime—regarless of their union status— because that is mandated by a FEDERAL law (Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938). That law requires employers to pay employees overtime pay at a rate of 150%. Thus, the only way to avoid overtime pay, would be to hire more employees…and this still wouldn’t cure the problem. For example, my husband is a sewer worker…he often is called out (away from our family—and I only see him on weekends due to my work schedule) in order to either plow roads (when it is exceptionally snowy), or suck up water from an overflow of a sewer pipe— I’m pretty sure those are all things we would agree we wouldn’t want to “wait” until his “normal” hours….especially when you are the one with the sewage overflowing into, say, your basement. Or when you have to drive to work the next morning in the snow. I can also speak from experience that he has been working for the City for over 16 years now, served in the military, and works his bottom off every day, and he makes in the mid $30k range. Consider that for a moment. 16 years at the same job, hard labor…to make what a teacher makes as a starting salary to work only 9 of 12 months. I would hardly call $30k “living high on the hog.” Yes, he gets benefits. They don’t seem “exceptional” to me. They are good, but not “exceptional.” I worked Union for UPS, and THOSE are exceptional benefits. Needless to say, your tax dollars are being wisely spent when it comes to the 270 (who negotiates so garbage men, sewer workers, street crews and water crews make a LIVING wage). Again, I have worked side-by-side with these guys. They don’t leave early— in fact they are in (UNPAID) early often, to suit up and get ready for their days at work, in mud, crud and “other” materials. OUTSIDE, whether it is 15 below, or 115 above. Rain or shine. So your poop flows out, your water flows in…and your garbage doesn’t overrun your yard, and that pothole that swallowed your tire yesterday, doesn’t swallow your car tomorrow. These guys aren’t the enemy. I can promise you they ARE earning their measly $30k jobs and benefits. And for the record. I worked with 45 of these guys over several summers— and not ONE of them has a lake home. Not one. Please, remember, the unions aren’t the enemy. The crappy economy is. Greedy Wall Street is. Irresponsible lenders and borrowers are/were. Stand united, don’t fall divided. Heck, maybe even take out a Cola or cup of coffee, and say “I appreciate you.” These guys do a job day after day, and never hear “thanks.” You think it is easy to wake up and do what they do? You think they wake up and say, “Woohoo, I get to suck poop today!” Probably not.