Posted on 03/15/2011 6:47:54 PM PDT by bigbob
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz today announced an agreement with the AFSCME union representing city workers ahead of the implementation of the governor's budget repair bill provisions restricting collective bargaining.
The deal announced with AFSCME Local 60 would require a 50 percent contribution to members' pensions and decrease a proposed pay increase at the end of the year from 3 percent to 2 percent.
The agreement also extends the contract for an additional 15 months, which would allow the union and city to work together through 2013, and comes with the mayor's assurance that he'll "do everything we can to avoid layoffs."
"This is an example of how collective bargaining works and how it should work," Cieslewicz said at a press conference this afternoon.
He said if other unions agree to similar deals, the city would save some $10.7 million in the 2012 budget. He estimated that would account for one-third to one-half of the city's projected shortfall in the next budget, and that he's told unions if they can achieve that level of savings, "we'll do the heavy lifting to solve the rest."
Cieslewicz said the discussions held over the past few days would have ordinarily taken place when the city puts together its budget in the fall -- and when officials would have a complete picture of the state and local fiscal situation.
He credited AFSCME for bringing the cost-saving ideas to the city in exchange for the extended contract, and said the Walker administration forced them into discussions by essentially "killing the union" once the repair bill takes effect.
Cieslewicz said he's gotten positive responses from other union leadership, and said he expects to call a special meeting of the city council next week to approve the contracts. AFSCME Local 60 has a vote on the contracts scheduled for Thursday, staff representative Jennifer McCulley said.
Council President Mark Clear also credited Senate Dems for the deal, saying they "gave us all the time to sit down and consider something like this which is going to potentially save a lot of money and potentially save a number of jobs."
Once again, libs show us what they truly fear.
Heavy Lifting = tax increases for Madison residents.
Reap what you sow...heartfelt sorry for those on our side.
keep negotiating mayor.....maybe the union thugs will be afraid enough so the city could have a balanced budget ....
Madison’s problem is the large radical university within its borders- current law allows the students who are only there for a temporary purpose to vote in their elections.
Their other problem is that much of the non-student population works for the state government either in the capital or with the same large university.
Madison is pretty hopeless at least until they quit allowing out of town students to vote.
It’s a start.
Not enough ‘sacrifice’ though.
Wow! What a “radical” the mayor is. Expecting union members to actually contribute to their retirements. Like the rest of us working stiffs already do.
“Their “deal” would never have gone down that way if not for Walker and the Republican Legislature”
Exactly right. The hand writing was on the wall.
A PAY INCREASE?? What the hell is that? I vaguely recall getting those back in the 90s. Has anybody else seen this elusive thing?
The problem, Mr. Mayor is that you are supposed to be working for and with the taxpayers and voters, not the union! You were supposed to wait until the financial situation was clear, which will be in about 10 days when the Sec. of State of WI will publish the law.
At that time you could still negotiate a similar agreement with the union if you wanted to, but you would not HAVE to negotiate with them on non-salary items as you do now. AND by extending the contract, you have put your city’s budget in future economic peril if funds from the state government are reduced.
You are either a union stooge, or an idiot!! Or BOTH!
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