St. Pete mayor against city workers’ unionization push
By Christopher O'Donnell, Tampa Tribune, Fla. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
About 30 employees classified as professional are recruiting their colleagues to back a move to unionize so they have a voice in annual pay and benefits negotiations. The city classifies about 340 workers as professionals including planners, some parks and recreation staff, engineers, accountants and programmers.
Under
But that would require the city to agree to hearings at the
"He enjoys having direct relationship with professional staff," said
Without city cooperation, the group still could force an election if at least 30 percent of the employees sign a union support card. The city would be required to recognize the union if a simple majority back unionizing.
"The No. 1 thing people have been saying is everybody from ditch diggers to sanitation workers or secretaries, every other employer has the opportunity to sit down with the city and discus what will be happening in their lives," said
City professionals, who are not paid overtime, went five years without a pay raise as the city struggled through the recession until receiving a 2 percent pay hike last October in former Mayor
That has led to discrepancies in pay between lower-level workers and professionals, said
"The union people continued to get raises while we did not because they were under a contract," she said. "They were making more money than us who have been here longer and hold higher positions."
Kriseman, a Democrat, received donations from unions during his successful election campaign, including the
He has proposed a 2 percent pay raise for city workers for 2015. FPSU leaders are pushing for the city to introduce a
"We're in this unique position in that we're not quite management, but by the same token everyone we work with is represented," he said. "We don't have a voice."
(727) 215-7654
___
(c)2014 the Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Fla.)
Visit the Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Fla.) at www.tampatrib.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 546 |
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News