01-28-08 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 28, 2008 Councilmember Thomas LaFountain, Chairperson, Personnel & Finance Committee, reported that this committee held a meeting this afternoon and it was the consensus of the committee to send this bill to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, 14th Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mayor Luecke asked the Council for their favorable consideration of this bill. He stated that when he presented the budget and salary ordinance to the Common Council last summer, they had not yet had final conclusion of negotiations with the Teamsters. Subsequent to that and in that budget bill they did set Teamster wages at 2% for 2008. Subsequent to that the Teamster's did ratify a three year agreement that would set wages for 2008 at 3% and then 2% in 2009 and additional 2% increase in 2010. He stated that this bill follows that agreement as reached with the Teamsters. He stated that the 3% wage increase for 2008 is proposed to be retroactive to January 1st. He further noted that because during the budget process generally they have tried to look at giving the non- bargaining employees a similar raise to the raises that are given to the bargaining units, the non-bargaining units were also set at 2% increase for 2008 with the proposed increase for Teamsters, there has also been filed an ordinance that is on for 1st reading tonight that would increase the salary for non-bargaining staff of the City of South Bend to 3% retroactive to January 1st as well. Mayor Luecke stated that as they look at the budget for 2008, he believes that these additional 1% increases in salary can be met within the existing budget, and are not asking for any increase in the budget. He believes that by managing the dollars well throughout the year and often in the Personnel line there are times when positions are vacant for a period of time that creates a cost savings from the budgeted figure so they believe that the additional 1% raise that is being requested for the Teamsters for 2008 can be managed within the existing budget. He again asked the Council for their favorable consideration. 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 Varner stated that for the sake of clarification, the reason that this is being done tonight is because the ratification vote for the approval came after the statutory deadline for approving the budget. He noted that negotiations had concluded prior to. Mayor Luecke stated that he supposes that it is a term of art of when negotiations are concluded and he generally expected that the real conclusion is when there is a vote. Mayor Luecke stated that the negotiation teams had finished meeting prior to the deadline, but a vote was not taken until after the deadline. Mr. James Szucs, Business Agent for Teamsters Local #364, 2405 E. Edison Road, South Bend, Indiana, stated that by virtue of it's ratification of the negotiated agreement between the parties on November 27, 2008 and November 28, 2008, urged the Council to approve the proposed resolution. Mr. Szucs thanked the Mayor and his staff for their professionalism throughout the process and thanked the Council and urged for their favorable consideration. Councilmember Ann Puzzello stated that she finds herself this evening in a very uncomfortable position. She stated that she is very much in favor of given raises for any City employees and believe that they deserve them. But there is a process when they work with the union groups in the City of South Bend. She noted that the City Administration is in charge of negotiating with the Teamsters, the Council sits in on those negotiations. She believes that negotiations are very, very important because at that time everyone listens to what the departments expectations are for the coming year, what they need, any changes that may need to be made and they try to give them every cent that they can and put the money where the department wants it. She stated that they are very careful during the negotiation process and she thinks that they are very important and she takes pride in them and has been a part of the negotiation process for a very long time. 4