April 26, 2010 City Coucil Meeting

[Danno]

I urge everyone that can make the council meeting tonight to do so.

Important topics related to the budget:

1.) The possible elimination of the position of Director of Downtown and Lakefront Redevelopment, thus freeing up at least $125K for non-unionized admin support.
Other key city managers/ employees to take on these responsibilites in the interim.

2.) Potential elimination of the position of Director of Governmental Services, thus freeing up at least $100K for non-unioned admin support.
Other key city managers/ employees to take on these responsibilities in the interim.

Important facts that require call to action and right to free speech:

1.) SEIU's contract with the City requires the City to lay-off all part-time employees (Crossing Guards and Life Guards) if one SEIU employee is laid-off. Yes, this is a fact as shocking as it is. So, please come out and let SEIU know that such tactics are Greedy and un-American, and more importantly will not be tolerated now or in the future by the Citizens of Waukegan.

2.) Friends of Waukegan Beach (visit the groups facebook page) will be there to voice their right to free speech and inform the Council and Citizens on there efforts to secure and protect one of the City's most precious assets during these trying economic times.

I've read the SEIU contract and it is my opinion that it is a misconception that it REQUIRES ALL part time employees to be laid off if one SEIU employee is laid off. It's very important for every alderman to know that the statement in the original post simply is not true. I present the following as support of that position.

1. The contract has a preample that affects everything in the entire contract. That preamble states the following: "Whereas, the City, by ordinance, has voluntarily endorsed the practices and procedures of collective bargaining as a fair and orderly way of conducting its relations with certain of its full time employees insofar as such practices and procedures do not interfere with the City's right and obligation to operate effectively and efficiently in order to best serve the City and its residents and to make clear all basic terms upon which such relationship depends"

2. Section 7.6 of the contract states the order in which layoffs shoud proceed but nowhere does it even imply that it is mandatory that ALL part time employees be laid off if just one SEIU employee is laid off. It does not say some of those emloyees should be laid off first and it does not say ALL of those employees shouls be laid off first. It just says "employees should be laid off". It cannot be expected that ALL of those employees be laid off because some of those employees are necessary to the City's "obligation to operate effectively and efficiently in order to best serve the City and its residents". Therefore it is my opinion that the contract does not specify or stess that ALL such employees be laid off and if it did it would undermine the mandate in the preamble "that such practices and procedures "do not interfere with the City's right and obligation to operate effectively and efficiently in order to best serve the City and its residents".