Union workers hold their ground with Lake Worth city staff

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The meeting was to start at 1pm.  The clock kept ticking. The city is "always late" I was told.

I attended the Union and the City of Lake Worth discussion on the PMSA and PEU union contracts on Friday, March 18th.  I only stayed for one hour as the writing on the wall for me was that the city was not about to give an inch and the union members were just as steadfast. There were several breaks for caucusing while I was there. Nothing changed but the union members stood their ground, were very respectful and matter of fact and at least they did not talk down to city staff.

In the minds of the union members, the city is asking them to give up too much and are not living up to their original agreement with them.  They are offended by the city's "take it or leave it" approach.

Peter 2nd from right
He was amazing as were they all

The carrot is the 4% raise being held in front of them that they have yet to receive unless, of course, they buckle down and accept the city's terms. Once a contract is agreed, I have been told that the raise is not retroactive even though it has been budgeted and the money is there. Peter said that the Union was educating its members and the city attorney said "no," it was just the opposite--accusing them of advocating. But isn't it the Union's job to suggest what they feel is the best way forward to its members? Isn't that why union members pay dues?

Sam Neimeiser, 2nd from left
"To ask people to sign away their 1st Amendment rights--
that is unconscionable ."

Sam Neimeiser, union organizer, a young guy with Master's Degree in Applied American Politics from Florida State University, was down from Tallahassee. He is from a long family line of union members and activists. He makes a middle class worker's salary, so he can relate. He is standing up for what he believes--the city union workers in their dispute with the city and getting the benefits that they were promised. Sam told Glen Torcivia, city attorney, that there are possible legal problems for breaking promises made by the city to the employees who  never had a say. 

Glen Torcivia asked them if it was something the city could afford?  Sam mentioned the city putting $15 million into a park and told Torcivia that the city threw them under the bus with their statements in the Palm Beach Post.  "Absolutely," said the city attorney.

Left to right: Glen Torcivia who gets a 3% raise every year, Germaine English, Human Resource Director who just got a big raise last year to $90,000 and Maire Elianor, new Finance Director at $130,000 a year sitting there listening to workers making $13.85 plus an hour who haven't had a raise in eight years and their union contract is an on-going stall.

I have not been told if they came to any agreement but if not, it could go to Binding Arbitration, Mediation or Impasse. Although I did not witness any negotiation while I was there, I would think that both sides would want to continue along those lines, if possible. It may not be.

Impasse:

• An impasse is determined when the employer and union reach a point during negotiations when both parties are reasonable in assuming that further bargaining is futile.
• Once the employer reaches an impasse, an employer is permitted to implement changes to the terms and conditions of employment that are consistent with the previous proposals to the unions. However, employers cannot offer greater benefits or ones that differ than those presented during negotiations.
• An employer can institute a lockout at this time in order to place economic pressure upon the union. However, employers should beware that unions may also call a strike at this point as well. 

Unsure if this description applies to municipalities.