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Home My WebLink About08-13-18 Community Relations �4 SpL3TH BE�� iU d PEACE a a$ _ x x 1865 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK YAREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK COMMUNITY RELATIONS AUGUST 13, 2018 3:09 P.M. Committee Members Present: Regina Williams-Preston, Jake Teshka, Karen White, Sharon L. McBride (late) Other Council Present: John Voorde, Jo M. Broden, Oliver Davis, Gavin Ferlic, Tim Scott . Others Present: Kareemah Fowler, Bianca Tirado, Graham Sparks, Bob Palmer, Gabriel Murei, Elivet Navarro Presenters: Regina Williams-Preston Agenda: Bill No. 18-39- Resolution for Honeywell Retirement Health Care Benefits Committee Chair Regina Williams-Preston called to order the Community Relations Committee meeting at 3:09 p.m. She introduced members of the Committee and proceeded to give the floor to the presenters. Bill No. 18-39- Resolution for Honeywell Retirement Health Care Benefits Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston, 838 N.Elmer Street,stated,Today we bring a proposed resolution in support of the Honeywell retirees. There has been a lot of conversation since the initial submission. What is happening is, Honeywell is a corporation that has deep roots in this community.They have provided great jobs and have been a great corporate citizen. They have also received a lot of support from the City in terms of different things like tax abatements over the years. They have elected to reduce their benefits to their retirees and they are also looking to offshore some jobs to Turkey out of the South Bend plant. What this resolution does is ask Jackie Walorski and other representatives at the State Level to talk to President Trump to try to encourage Honeywell to remember their commitments, be a good corporate citizen and to keep it's jobs in this Country.We have worked with the local labor organizations and retirees to craft this. We have also talked to Council Members. I look forward to a nice discussion today and encourage continued amendments. We felt the resolution as submitted earlier needed some more work. What you have in front of you has not been submitted, officially, but it changes based on conversations we have been having since the original document was submitted. One (1) thing added was adding Mike Pence,as a native son and former Governor of Indiana.Also,we acknowledge within the resolution that we really respect and appreciate what Honeywell has brought to this community over these many decades. We don't want to neglect that but we want to encourage them, because of our longstanding positive history,to have them change a few things they have been doing recently. INTEGRITY1 SERVICE1 ACCESSIBILITY JENNIFER M.COFFMAN B7ANcn L.TuADo JOSEPH R MOLNAR CHIEF DEPUTY/DIREcToR OF OPERATIONS DEPuzv/DIRECroR OF Poucr ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION ( EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1 227 W.Jefferson Blvd.I South Bend,Indiana 466011 p 574.235.92211 f 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov ®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK Committee Chair Williams-Preston then opened the floor to questions from Committee and Council Members. Committeemember Karen White made a motion to accept the second (2nd) substitute version of Bill No. 18-39. Committeemember Jake Teshka seconded this motion which carried by a voice vote of three (3) ayes. Councilmember Tim Scott asked, Bob, have you seen the changes here? Council Attorney Bob Palmer replied,No, I have not. Councilmember Oliver Davis stated, In terms of recommending the changes, I thought it was important to honor the fact that we do have a native son from Indiana as our Vice President. I thought that was a better way for this to be heard instead of it being an academic activity we do. There may be things he looks back on because he comes back to the State practically all the time anyway, so,based on the Indiana staff. So from that standpoint, it would be nice for him to at least kind of consider looking at something from the South Bend kind of thing. And this may be something that,of this magnitude,his office gets. These letters,after approved,will be sent to their offices, their congressional delegations, and everything else from that standpoint. I'm pleased to be one (1) of the cosponsors for this. Committeemember White stated, I personally like the changes. I think acknowledging Honeywell's deep roots in our community comes with some expectations as well. I like recognizing that. They must continue supporting our valuable citizens. Committeemember Teshka stated, So I think, through my own contemplation and conversations I've had, my heart is with this resolution but I have some deep philosophical concerns with it. I think first (1St) and foremost, as we look at the portion of the resolution that actually calls for action, we are asking President Trump to exercise his power and influence to direct Federal Contractor Honeywell to do something.What that sounds like,to me,is a mandate from the Federal Government for a corporation to do the right thing. While I too want Honeywell to do the right thing by its employees and retirees, personally, that seems like an overstep from the Federal Government. Councilmember Davis interjected, How would you word it? Councilmember Gavin Ferlic asked, So does the word direct do too much? Committeemember Teshka replied, Yes. Councilmember Davis interrupted, I'm cool with it. I mean, could you massage that for us? Committeemember Teshka replied, Yeah, so, one (1) of the things, and Regina and I had this conversation earlier, but as this is written I wouldn't be able to support it for a couple of reasons. It is calling for our President to direct. By all means, the Federal Government can influence, by way of its checkbook,behavior, and I would encourage that for any upcoming contract renewal or proposed contract with Honeywell. The Federal Government should look at the corporation's EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 466011 p 574.235.9221 if 574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 iwww.southbendin.gov 2 ®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK actions as it relates to either offshoring jobs or its current treatment of retirees. My grandfather worked for Bendix for over forty (40) years. My grandmother benefited from those benefits even after my grandfather passed away. For my family, it was definitely a blessing. Where I get hung up is, and just in my personal and philosophical idea, asking the Federal Government to step in and mandate a corporation do the right thing. There are also a couple things with the tone of the resolution. For example when the resolution talks about Honeywell making $1.7 billion in profits. I understand that is aimed to point to the question of why they are cutting benefits while they're profiting. But, again,philosophically, it seems like we are saying profits are bad. I don't think that is true and when corporations put profits over people, I think that is a bad thing. Again, there are some things in its current state that I wouldn't be able to support. Councilmember Davis interjected, And I appreciate that. I've told people, especially when we're dealing with a bipartisan kind of concept,it is nice to get your input because this is going to people from both parties. For us to just pass this eight(8) to one (1), it is a waste of my time if you don't have the kind of flavor in it that you can deal with that. So I would prefer, and we talked about this since day one(1), after this meeting,to get together. Think about the ways you would like to tweak that. If we have to tone this way down, I would rather have a toned down complete concept than a spirited one (1). We are the body that represents the whole town. I'd rather just acknowledge what is going on. Anything anybody wants. We don't have to have spicy. No cayenne pepper. We can do some seasoning salt and I'm alright. Committee Chair Williams-Preston then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. Bill Dunn, 1620 Southwood Avenue, stated, Just a quick thought if you are looking for a strong argument. Turkey's government is in turmoil right now. On August 1St, 2018, the President announced he was going to make even more turmoil by imposing stiff tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. I think Honeywell is trying to outsource that F-35 fighter plane breaking system. Guess what? We just halted sale of one hundred(100)F-35s from Turkey in the last couple of weeks.All I'm saying is you have a government that is somewhat on the unstable side and we are outsourcing work that could be very vital to the Country. Committeemember Sharon L. McBride arrived at the meeting at 3:22 p.m. Committeemember White made a motion to send Bill No. 18-39 to the full Council with no recommendation. Committeemember Teshka seconded this motion which carried by a voice vote of four(4) ayes. With no further business,Committee Chair Williams-Preston adjourned the Community Relations Committee meeting at 3:22 p.m. Res ectfully Sub tte Res i lams-Preston, mmittee Chair EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TfD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 3