Showing posts with label Pension. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pension. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
City employee, Nicholas Petrino, speaks to the Lake Worth Commission on Pension
Madam Mayor,
Vice Mayer Maxwell,
City Commissioners
Mr. Bornstein,
My name is Nicholas Petrino.
In 2006 I enlisted for employment with City of Lake Worth and have been diligently working towards my promised future. In 2010 overall employee morale took a tremendous dive and has been descending since. I have witnessed many employees resign. Taking with them a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience that most corporations would view as a retainable asset. These people were more than just co-workers, they were my friends.
Over the course of the last seven months we have been tersely pleading with the City to allow us to retain our promised pensions. Meanwhile the City has stood firm on a platform of unsustainability.
As we’ve continued to see excessive raise amounts approved only for management versus our onetime 4%. Focusing efforts on insuring the employees receive their promised pensions, to which we have been contributing 7.8% of our paychecks towards should be a priority. We couldn’t help but ask ourselves… Why isn’t our dedication valued? Why are they accepting outlandish pay increases but telling us the financial well has been drained to the point our contracted retirement is at stake? These concerns have been extremely disruptive to the overall morale of this Great City.
Today at the union negotiations, the City made the first progressive step in paving the way for a possible bright future. They acted in good faith and agreed to separate the Pension from all other addendum articles. I am grateful the City and the Union have put aside their past differences and can now fairly discuss our truly vital Pension. I hope and believe that the City will honor their word, their commitment. To allow the pre 2010 personnel to keep our earned Pensions as is.
In this moment the City has the ability to change the tide, to forgo all past transgressions, to restore morale. The decisions that are made now will set the tone for the careers of future generations of City Employees. I hope we can all grow together not only as co-workers but a team of friends to help this City, this Community, move forward in a positive direction. A direction of unity and compassion.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak here today.
Vice Mayer Maxwell,
City Commissioners
Mr. Bornstein,
My name is Nicholas Petrino.
In 2006 I enlisted for employment with City of Lake Worth and have been diligently working towards my promised future. In 2010 overall employee morale took a tremendous dive and has been descending since. I have witnessed many employees resign. Taking with them a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience that most corporations would view as a retainable asset. These people were more than just co-workers, they were my friends.
Over the course of the last seven months we have been tersely pleading with the City to allow us to retain our promised pensions. Meanwhile the City has stood firm on a platform of unsustainability.
As we’ve continued to see excessive raise amounts approved only for management versus our onetime 4%. Focusing efforts on insuring the employees receive their promised pensions, to which we have been contributing 7.8% of our paychecks towards should be a priority. We couldn’t help but ask ourselves… Why isn’t our dedication valued? Why are they accepting outlandish pay increases but telling us the financial well has been drained to the point our contracted retirement is at stake? These concerns have been extremely disruptive to the overall morale of this Great City.
Today at the union negotiations, the City made the first progressive step in paving the way for a possible bright future. They acted in good faith and agreed to separate the Pension from all other addendum articles. I am grateful the City and the Union have put aside their past differences and can now fairly discuss our truly vital Pension. I hope and believe that the City will honor their word, their commitment. To allow the pre 2010 personnel to keep our earned Pensions as is.
In this moment the City has the ability to change the tide, to forgo all past transgressions, to restore morale. The decisions that are made now will set the tone for the careers of future generations of City Employees. I hope we can all grow together not only as co-workers but a team of friends to help this City, this Community, move forward in a positive direction. A direction of unity and compassion.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak here today.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Union Reps meet with Lake Worth City Management
Comment Up
UPDATE: Tentative agreement reached on contract at around 1:45pm today. Brief meeting at 2:30pm Monday, Apr 25 and then they will post for 14 days so that membership can vote. Article 15 had some housekeeping changes. Article 31, the Pension will be a separate negotiation.
The negotiations between Lake Worth and the city employees regarding their union contract started 40 minutes late. The city Attorney, Finance Director and Human Resource Director were there representing the city. Sam Neimeiser, the Union Representative administrative organizer, was down from Tallahassee to oversee and help negotiate the contract. There were two caucuses during the time I attended to hash out the requests and suggestions by the union employee members.
Peter Atkinson who is on the negotiating team said, "We are here not to be unreasonable. Be good on your word and if you can't, show us the numbers. Don't insult us, please."
City attorney, Glen Torcivia said that the city was trying in good faith in a financial crisis. He did say that the city could afford the 30 year plan and 5/5/5 which is a 5% contribution from the employee, 5% from the city and 5% on their return on their investment.
The employees want the city to bring forth their best formal offer, something they have yet to do. They also want retroactive pay regarding their 4% raise that has been withheld during these negotiations. The meeting is supposed to end by 1pm and hopefully there will be a satisfactory agreement.
UPDATE: Tentative agreement reached on contract at around 1:45pm today. Brief meeting at 2:30pm Monday, Apr 25 and then they will post for 14 days so that membership can vote. Article 15 had some housekeeping changes. Article 31, the Pension will be a separate negotiation.
The negotiations between Lake Worth and the city employees regarding their union contract started 40 minutes late. The city Attorney, Finance Director and Human Resource Director were there representing the city. Sam Neimeiser, the Union Representative administrative organizer, was down from Tallahassee to oversee and help negotiate the contract. There were two caucuses during the time I attended to hash out the requests and suggestions by the union employee members.
Peter Atkinson who is on the negotiating team said, "We are here not to be unreasonable. Be good on your word and if you can't, show us the numbers. Don't insult us, please."
City attorney, Glen Torcivia said that the city was trying in good faith in a financial crisis. He did say that the city could afford the 30 year plan and 5/5/5 which is a 5% contribution from the employee, 5% from the city and 5% on their return on their investment.
The employees want the city to bring forth their best formal offer, something they have yet to do. They also want retroactive pay regarding their 4% raise that has been withheld during these negotiations. The meeting is supposed to end by 1pm and hopefully there will be a satisfactory agreement.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Employees for Fair Treatment - Lake Worth
Comment Up
Lake Worth Pension Explanation
Today I received an anonymous letter with no return address. I have received letters marked as such before but this one is different. Normally an unsigned letter would go immediately to File 13 or the PBSO depending upon its content. However, I believe this to be a sincere explanation as to what is going on with our City of Lake Worth employees pension options and what occurred years ago.
What I do not understand is how some employees were "grandfathered" in to the original plan and others who were in the city's employ were not. What were the circumstances? Why has it taken all these years to finally negotiate? Is it because there is no present Union contract?
Perhaps the writer of this letter can explain further. But in the meantime, and for all of you who are not familiar with the circumstances, you might want to read the letter by clicking the link above.
Lake Worth Pension Explanation
Today I received an anonymous letter with no return address. I have received letters marked as such before but this one is different. Normally an unsigned letter would go immediately to File 13 or the PBSO depending upon its content. However, I believe this to be a sincere explanation as to what is going on with our City of Lake Worth employees pension options and what occurred years ago.
What I do not understand is how some employees were "grandfathered" in to the original plan and others who were in the city's employ were not. What were the circumstances? Why has it taken all these years to finally negotiate? Is it because there is no present Union contract?
Perhaps the writer of this letter can explain further. But in the meantime, and for all of you who are not familiar with the circumstances, you might want to read the letter by clicking the link above.
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