Coalition of LA City Unions

City Council Votes Unanimously for City Workers' Better Way for LA

June 26, 2009

On Friday, June 26, just days before the new fiscal year, the LA City Council voted 14-0 to approve a landmark agreement between the City and the Coalition of LA City Unions that will avert layoffs and furloughs and prevent major service reductions.

"Our goal all along was to keep people working and serving the residents of Los Angeles," SEIU 721 President Bob Schoonover said. "This challenge to us has always been about more than our jobs and paychecks--it's about the City we love and serve. This agreement keeps the City running, but also makes us part of the engine for economic recovery rather than part of the problem."

"We have seen the damaging effects of layoffs and furloughs in communities across the country, and we were determined to find a better way for LA," said Cheryl Parisi, Chair of the Coalition and Executive Director of AFSCME Council 36. "This is a big city solution, a partnership agreement between workers and City officials thinking big and thinking long term for the people of Los Angeles."

"This agreement allows us to balance the budget without layoffs and furloughs that hurt workers and cut services at a moment when our families need them most," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

"I think we are doing the best thing for the city because we're still going to be able to deliver services," said Dave Bunjac, Principal Storekeeper and President of Coalition LIUNA 777. "We're not putting anybody on the unemployment lines, and we're saving half a billion dollars to keep the City running."

Download Coalition leaflet with summary of the agreement here

EAA Opposes Retirement Plan, Pushes toward Layoffs and Furloughs

As City Council was to take up the agreement, Bob Aquino of the Engineers and Architects Association (EAA) leveled accusations during public comments that the early retirement incentive plan (ERIP) had been negotiated without his input, despite his being in CAO negotiations throughout the process. He said EAA opposed the early retirement plan.

EAA, invited to join the Coalition of LA City Unions when it began, left immediately after negotiating its current contract with 3% raises. Now, as the Coalition has worked to convince the City Council and Mayor to support an ERIP that would reduce the need for layoffs and furloughs and keep services going, Aquino has put his animosity toward the Coalition ahead of City services, City workers and the welfare of his own members. Aquino today fought to preserve layoffs and furloughs for Coalition members and to prevent his own members from participating in ERIP.

"There will still be layoffs to some people,'' Councilmember Bernard Parks said to the media.”But if this conceptual agreement goes forward as it's currently intended, then members of the Coalition would not be subject to layoffs or furloughs."

"I've learned that being with other Coalition unions gives us a real voice in helping solve the City's budget problems," said Alan Peshek, Storekeeper, present today for the Council proceedings. "Being honest and upfront with the CAO's office, the Mayor's office, willing to sit down and work out a real plan, we were able to work out an agreement that helps more city employees in the long run."

Ratification Votes Coming

Coalition bargaining teams have voted Yes to recommend ratification by the members. The agreement will not be final until ratification is complete.

Ballots will go out next week. Call your union or talk to your steward to set up a worksite meeting and get your questions answered.

Coalition Bargaining Teams Vote “Yes!” to Protect City Services and Co-Workers’ Jobs

June 24, 2009

LA City Workers One Step Closer to Securing a Better Way for LA

In the worst economic crisis in decades, Coalition Bargaining Teams voted unanimously Tuesday afternoon to recommend ratification by the membership of a plan to secure services, jobs, wages and contracts long enough for Los Angeles to weather the economic storm.

Just Two Votes Away

The agreement will prevent layoffs and furloughs while helping up to 2,400 workers retire with dignity and saving the City nearly half a billion dollars over two years.

Once agreed to by the full Council this week, ballots will go out to a vote of the full membership of unions in the Coalition of LA City Unions.

Highlights of the plan:

• No mandatory furloughs and no layoffs in Coalition bargaining units for two years–time for the economy to recover.

• No wage cuts.

• Pushes raises back two years and extends contract two years to lock them in. All raises guaranteed.

• Additional money in later years to compensate for delayed raises: cash bonuses of 1.75% in 2001 and 2012 plus an extra 1.75% raise in 2013, the final year.

• Renewal of the "Mutual Commitment to LA's Future" through which the Coalition prevented layoffs and furloughs for Coalition union members.

• No other provisions of the contract change.

• The Early Retirement Incentive Plan already approved by LACERS participants—a combination of age/and or service credits seeking to retire up to 2,400 workers.

“We’re all leaders. If deferring my pay
for two years will save jobs for my
brothers and sisters, I’m all for it.”

– Tim Butcher, SEIU Heavy Duty Truck Operator,
Street Services

Additional protections and benefits:

• Coalition unions will receive proportional share of any new money to the General Fund as enhanced wages and/or benefits.

• Savings in proprietary departments and special funds will be used to contract-in services to City workers.

• Job openings in all proprietary departments will be filled first by internal City promotions.

• Savings from part-time workers will be directed to maintaining the services they provide.

• City's commitment to keep Coalition members in step with other city unions that might negotiate contracts before Coalition contracts expire.

Every inch of ground gained so far has come through member action.

While all across the United State, the state of California, and the better way Southern California region public workers are being forced to take furloughs and pay cuts, and residents suffer drastic service cuts, Los Angeles has the chance to lead again by embracing a solution that creates long-term fiscal stability, prioritizes direct service and invests in the future workforce.

Coalition bargaining teams voted today to recommend a yes vote to the members to ratify this agreement. Coalition bargaining units must approve it for it to take effect.

“I urge all Coalition members to vote yes because it benefits everyone. As a single mother, I cannot afford to lose $400-500 dollars a month from my paycheck. No coalition member can afford to lose that much money a month. I urge you to vote yes.”

– Yolanda Estrada, AFSCME Legal Secretary,
City Attorney’s Office

Bargaining Team members and Union Reps will set up worksite meetings over the coming weeks to help answer the many questions you will have about this proposed agreement.

Contact your Steward or Union Rep for more information or to request a meeting.

An Important Message From the Coalition of LA City Unions

June 19, 2009, 6 p.m.

We're taking a break from a meeting at City Hall to give you an important update about ongoing discussions with the City that could affect your job.

We all agree that mandatory furloughs and layoffs would be devastating to our City. That's why the Coalition of LA City Unions has been working for well over a year toward an agreement with the City that keeps LA working in this time of unprecedented budget crisis.

This week we--Cheryl Parisi of AFSCME, Julie Bucher of SEIU 721, Daniel Villao of the Building and Construction Trades, Victor Gordo of LIUNA 777, Carlos Rubio of the Teamsters and Lance Bedolla of the Operating Engineers--have met with the Mayor, the Mayor's staff, the Executive Employee Relations Committee (EERC), interim City Administrative Officer Ray Ciranna and Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry Miller to discuss a detailed framework that would prevent mandatory furloughs and layoffs and provide early retirement incentives for those who have given decades of service to the City.

We're working around the clock today, and will continue through the weekend if necessary. Our goal is for the Executive Employee Relations Committee (EERC) to authorize a package on Tuesday morning so it can come before all of the Coalition bargaining teams that afternoon. Additionally, the Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System (LACERS) will meet on Monday to discuss a City proposal regarding early retirement incentives.

We know you're all aching for more details. Expect to see more information in your email inbox on Monday about early retirement incentives and on Tuesday afternoon after your bargaining team meets. Remember: No agreement will be final without a full vote of all union members.

We're well aware that you expect your union to be responsible and proactive in working with City decision-makers, rather than sitting on the sidelines. Rest assured that the Coalition of LA City Unions' principals and bargaining teams are working tirelessly to protect your job, the City services you provide, and your ability to support yourself and your family during this unprecedented economic crisis, and that everything you the members have done: rallying in front of City Hall, dogging the Mayor, rallying at the Mayor's mansion, marching on City Hall and calling and e-mailing the Mayor and City Council has created the climate for us to move this forward. We would not have gotten so far without your actions.

In solidarity,

Cheryl Parisi, American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 36

Julie Butcher, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Local 721

Daniel Villao, Los Angeles/Orange County Building & Construction Trades Council

Victor Gordo, Laborers International Union (LIUNA) Local 777

Carlos Rubio, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 911

Lance Bedolla, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 501

Marching and Testifying for a
Better Way

June 10, 2009

Hundreds of City workers marched to City Hall Tuesday to urge City Council to abandon short-sighted plans that would devastate City services and impose pay cuts through furloughs and layoffs, but instead to embrace a Better Way for LA held out by workers.

   • Workers from every union and almost every civilian job joined
     the march.
   • Whole shops and worksites shut down for the day.
   • Workers testified for two hours, filling Council chambers and      overflowing into the halls and onto the western City Hall steps.

View photos on Flickr

“The timeline is now short, but we believe that we can succeed in finding a Better Way for LA. We can and we must.”
– Dave Bunjac, Principal Storekeeper and President of LA Chapter, LIUNA 777

"You're not just furloughing individuals, you’re furloughing families.”
– Simboa Wright, Wastewater Collections Worker II, SEIU Local 721

“Please don’t furlough my dad.”
– Elijah Wright, 3 years old, Simboa’s son

“We’ve got to get a better budget by working together to save
this City”
– Gerald Harris, Recycling Ambassador