09-30-10 Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 not exceed the parameters set out by the City Controller and Mayor and discussed with this Council. This bill has language in it consistent with language in the salary ordinance in 2010. The compensation level that is in the 2011 salary ordinance for the teamster is a wage level flat to the 2010 salary ordinance. There are some new job title positions that have been added they are a Sign Artist - Job Leader in Traffic and Lighting; Building & Structural Maintenance II and Job Leader in Parks & Recreation. He stated that these positions will add additional economic value to the contract that’s offered beyond the zero percent wage increase. In addition there are certain negotiations that occurred in parts of the supplement contract dealing with uniforms and other equipment that the city had agreed to these and have some economic value, however, they have yet to determine the economic value just simply because it takes some time to determine what and how many that these apply to but it would add some economic value. He asked the Council for their favorable consideration. He stated that he did not have direct contact with the Teamster Negotiations and called upon Gary Gilot, Director of Public Works and Phil St. Clair, Director, Park Department; Chuck Leone, City Attorney to give a brief overview of the negotiations. th Gary Gilot, Director, Public Works, 13 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, stated that he had the opportunity to participate in the Teamster negotiations. He stated that there were sixteen (16) union stewards present from the Teamsters representing our diverse operations along with Jim Szucs, Business Agent. There was good constructive dialog and really appreciate what these women and men do in terms of service deliver for the City. It was a positive spirited discussion. He stated that they did not agree on everything but there was good professionalism on both side of the table. Mr. Gilot noted that they brought certain standard benefits into the Teamster world like the standardized health care and funeral policy so that they would receive all the benefits under the handbook as the previous language in the contract was vague. Phil St. Clair, Director, Park Department, 321 S. Walter Street, South Bend, Indiana, thanked the wage team for the Teamster’s Union and Business Agent Jim Szucs did a great job of negotiating for the Teamsters. He noted that in Parks as well as in Public Works over the years they have had a reduction in force with their hourly employees and have asked those hourly employees to do more with less and they have stepped up to the plate and got the job done. He stated that he is grateful for the relationship that they have with the Teamsters Union and with Jim Szucs who does a wonderful job along with Jeff Jankowski who is the City’s Agent for negotiations. th Charles Leone, City Attorney, 14 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, stated that he did not personally participate in the Teamster Negotiations, however, Jeff Jankowski, Deputy City Attorney, did participate and the feedback that he received from him was a positive, good dialogue, and look forward to the ratification of the agreement. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Councilmember Oliver Davis thanked everyone involved in the Teamster negotiations. He stated that the negotiations were fair and at a quality level. Councilmember Henry Davis questioned the positions that Mr. Zientara talked about earlier in his presentation. He asked if those were new positions and if they were non- bargaining. Mr. Zientara replied that they were Teamster positions and not new positions, but new job titles. Mr. St. Clair clarified that the building structural maintenance II has been a part of the discussion since the beginning of negotiations and part of the supplemental agreement. The job leader positions are promotions and are in the current salary description for the Teamsters. They are for two employees that have the potential for promotions. 5