COUNCIL TAKES FIRST STEP TOWARD DELIVERING ON MAYOR FOSTER’S THREAT TO LONG BEACH CITY WORKERS
By Dave Wielenga
Following through on a threat delivered by Mayor Bob Foster when he unveiled his proposed 2013 budget, the Long Beach City Council on Tuesday ordered the preparation of a ballot measure that would cut and limit the pay and benefits of the City’s non-public safety and mainly lower-paid employees. The vote was 6-2.
City Attorney Robert Shannon will draft the ballot measure and return it to the Council for further discussion. But even as he accepted the assignment, Shannon warned the Council that a such a referendum cannot be conducted until the completion of bargaining between City management and the City employees’ representatives in the International Association of Machinists (IAM). Those negotiation rights are guaranteed by the federal government.
The workers have more than a year to go on their current contract with the City, which the City Council approved in 2008—with the blessing of Mayor Foster.
But as Foster publicly laid out his proposed 2013 budget in early August, he just-as-publicly laid into the City employees represented by the IAM. After two years of his notoriously effective pressure, they are the only group of city workers that has not yet acceded to his demands for reduced compensation, Foster’s frustration was obvious.
“Each year of delay costs our residents $12 million in services and much more in future unfunded costs,” Foster told the Los Angeles Times. “If IAM continues to be intractable, I will place a pension measure on the ballot.”
6 Comments
The ballot pension measure means nothing. Its Bob Foster AGAIN blowing hot air, which will AGAIN cost us taxpayers millions of $ in legal fees.
Federal law requires the city to negotiate with the union in good faith on the contract BOTH Foster and the union agreed to in 2008. The union has a binding contract and doesn’t have to do anything until 2013 unless they are offered an alternative they want.
Last night, City Council voted to NOT reopen negotiations with IAM (???), but instead, place the pension measure on the ballot. No judge in the world will consider this negotiating in good faith. This will result in $millions of taxpayers money being spent on legal fees to support Bob Foster’s hot air, and will ultimately be overturned by the courts.
Where’s this business experience Foster claims he has?
Speaks volumes about what our city employees think of the blob…they know more about him than we do…what a loser he is! Wonder if the phony businessman contaminated the IAM discussions?
So can we call this the, “Help Us Before We Spend Again” ballot measure?
Let’s not forget that this is the same mayor who now is on the hook for millions in payments to city employees for illegally furloughing them in a petty fit of rage just a few years back.
Even if this meaningless ballot measure were to pass it would cost the city millions in defending it in court.
Also, the IAM has asked (and the city management has obliged) withholding it’s member’s scheduled 2% raise that was to be effective Oct. 1, 2012 until current negotiations have ended.
Mr. Duke,
Why is no media outlet talking about IAM withholding it’s member’s scheduled 2% raise that was to be effective Oct. 1, 2012?
How come no media outlet is talking about how much money Bob Foster cost us taxpayers by illegally furloughing city employees, money that will have to now be paid back to union workers?
Both excellent questions. May I suggest someone affiliated with this fine site inquire with city officials?
Please! There is so much going on between the council and city management that needs to be explored! The citizens of Long Beach just need a Deep Throat to move the investigation along…..