At least two of the five labor groups representing Phoenix employees have asked for raises or cost-of-living adjustments as they enter into contract negotiations with the city.
Employee groups also are looking to insert contract language that would further protect public employees when the city considers outsourcing programs and services.
On Dec. 1, public-employee unions and associations representing police, fire and other rank-and-file employees submitted their first contract proposals to the city to cover wage and benefit agreements for 2012-14.
The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, representing police officers in non-supervisory positions, indicated it would be asking for raises, though it didn't specify how much.
The Laborers' International Union of North America Local 777, representing landscapers, street-maintenance workers and other public-works employees, has proposed annual cost-of-living adjustments between 2 and 4 percent for its employees.
LIUNA organizing and field-services coordinator Jennifer Wozniak said the group does not consider such an adjustment a raise.
"This is literally to keep them up with inflation after two years of concessions (pay cuts)," Wozniak said.
PLEA Treasurer and Chief Contract Negotiator Will Buividas said rising pension costs and increased and cost of living prompted the labor association to ask for pay increases.
"We're seeking a raise because we've taken a 3.2 percent pay cut last year and continued this year," Buividas said. "At the same time the (Consumer Price Index) keeps going up. The cops have to pay for goods and services increasing even though their pay as decreased."
The proposed increases are the first requests employee labor groups and the city have to work through as they continue labor talks for the next few months.
The contract talks between the city and unions will be the first since employees agreed to concessions for the first time in city history two years ago.
In 2010, Phoenix was facing a $277 million general-fund deficit. All public employee labor groups agreed to 3.2 percent wage and benefit cuts for the next two years, saving the city more than $104 million.
Whether those cuts will carry over will be determined through the negotiating process, said Lori Steward, Phoenix's labor relations administrator.
The 3.2 percent concessions will automatically be restored for the 2012-14 labor talks as outlined in the current contract the unions and associations have with the city. But it doesn't automatically mean that city employees will return to the pay they were getting two years ago before the cuts.
"They're only automatically restored for purposes of bargaining," Steward said. "The burden is back on the city if we want to keep those concessions in place."
The City Council isn't directly involved in negotiations but will have to approve the final contracts city management and the labor groups agree to. Phoenix will hold a public hearing on the proposed labor contracts on Dec. 14, before the city and unions get into the thick of negotiations.
April 14 is the deadline for management and the unions to come to an agreement before they go to the City Council for approval.
The council will likely instruct management to discuss employee raises and bonuses, along with pension reform, with city employee labor groups during contract negotiations since those two items have been controversial in Phoenix for the past year.
Luis Schmidt, vice president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2384, said his group isn't asking for raises, and the group's proposal allows for restoration of the 3.2 percent concessions.
AFSCME Local 2384 represents electricians, mechanics and water-treatment employees.
"We've given up a lot," Schmidt said. "We're not asking for raises, but we're going in with an open mind. We're not taking a hard-line stance."
That means, Schmidt said, that the group will also consider continued pay cuts.
AFSCME also proposed new contract language that would bar the city from displacing a public employee if it chooses to outsource or contract a service or department. LIUNA also had a similar proposal.
Schmidt and Wozniak said they know the proposal is extreme, but it was aimed at opening the discussions on what process would take place between unions and the city when Phoenix considers increased outsourcing and how to protect employees.
"You throw something strong out there knowing that you're goal is to encourage more conversation," Schmidt said. "We're saying, 'Talk to us.' "
AFCSME Local 2960, which represents 9-1-1 operators, dispatchers and building inspectors, didn't ask for raises either but does want to roll back to what employees were being paid before wage and benefit cuts implemented in 2010.
The Local 2960 contract proposal, however, does state that if "any other bargaining unit receives a pay raise, the same amount and percentage will be given to all Unit 3 employees."
"We understand what everyone is going through; we don't want to look greedy," said AFSCME board member Frank Piccioli. "But at the same time, we just want to make sure we're treated fairly."
The United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association also likely will ask for raises for members, though it didn't specifically say so in its contract proposal.
Association President Pete Gorraiz said he can't talk about the specifics of what the group will ask for. He added that the last election proved that voters support city employees.
Mayor-elect Greg Stanton and District 5 Councilman-elect Daniel Valenzuela, a Glendale firefighter, will be seated on the council next month.
Employee pay, pension reform and union influence were some of the biggest campaign issues candidates fought over in the recent mayor and City Council elections in August and November.
"The candidates that tried to demonize the employees lost," Gorraiz said. "The message is let's continue to be teammates with the city and work together."
Employee groups also are looking to insert contract language that would further protect public employees when the city considers outsourcing programs and services.
On Dec. 1, public-employee unions and associations representing police, fire and other rank-and-file employees submitted their first contract proposals to the city to cover wage and benefit agreements for 2012-14.
The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, representing police officers in non-supervisory positions, indicated it would be asking for raises, though it didn't specify how much.
The Laborers' International Union of North America Local 777, representing landscapers, street-maintenance workers and other public-works employees, has proposed annual cost-of-living adjustments between 2 and 4 percent for its employees.
LIUNA organizing and field-services coordinator Jennifer Wozniak said the group does not consider such an adjustment a raise.
"This is literally to keep them up with inflation after two years of concessions (pay cuts)," Wozniak said.
PLEA Treasurer and Chief Contract Negotiator Will Buividas said rising pension costs and increased and cost of living prompted the labor association to ask for pay increases.
"We're seeking a raise because we've taken a 3.2 percent pay cut last year and continued this year," Buividas said. "At the same time the (Consumer Price Index) keeps going up. The cops have to pay for goods and services increasing even though their pay as decreased."
The proposed increases are the first requests employee labor groups and the city have to work through as they continue labor talks for the next few months.
The contract talks between the city and unions will be the first since employees agreed to concessions for the first time in city history two years ago.
In 2010, Phoenix was facing a $277 million general-fund deficit. All public employee labor groups agreed to 3.2 percent wage and benefit cuts for the next two years, saving the city more than $104 million.
Whether those cuts will carry over will be determined through the negotiating process, said Lori Steward, Phoenix's labor relations administrator.
The 3.2 percent concessions will automatically be restored for the 2012-14 labor talks as outlined in the current contract the unions and associations have with the city. But it doesn't automatically mean that city employees will return to the pay they were getting two years ago before the cuts.
"They're only automatically restored for purposes of bargaining," Steward said. "The burden is back on the city if we want to keep those concessions in place."
The City Council isn't directly involved in negotiations but will have to approve the final contracts city management and the labor groups agree to. Phoenix will hold a public hearing on the proposed labor contracts on Dec. 14, before the city and unions get into the thick of negotiations.
April 14 is the deadline for management and the unions to come to an agreement before they go to the City Council for approval.
The council will likely instruct management to discuss employee raises and bonuses, along with pension reform, with city employee labor groups during contract negotiations since those two items have been controversial in Phoenix for the past year.
Luis Schmidt, vice president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2384, said his group isn't asking for raises, and the group's proposal allows for restoration of the 3.2 percent concessions.
AFSCME Local 2384 represents electricians, mechanics and water-treatment employees.
"We've given up a lot," Schmidt said. "We're not asking for raises, but we're going in with an open mind. We're not taking a hard-line stance."
That means, Schmidt said, that the group will also consider continued pay cuts.
AFSCME also proposed new contract language that would bar the city from displacing a public employee if it chooses to outsource or contract a service or department. LIUNA also had a similar proposal.
Schmidt and Wozniak said they know the proposal is extreme, but it was aimed at opening the discussions on what process would take place between unions and the city when Phoenix considers increased outsourcing and how to protect employees.
"You throw something strong out there knowing that you're goal is to encourage more conversation," Schmidt said. "We're saying, 'Talk to us.' "
AFCSME Local 2960, which represents 9-1-1 operators, dispatchers and building inspectors, didn't ask for raises either but does want to roll back to what employees were being paid before wage and benefit cuts implemented in 2010.
The Local 2960 contract proposal, however, does state that if "any other bargaining unit receives a pay raise, the same amount and percentage will be given to all Unit 3 employees."
"We understand what everyone is going through; we don't want to look greedy," said AFSCME board member Frank Piccioli. "But at the same time, we just want to make sure we're treated fairly."
The United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association also likely will ask for raises for members, though it didn't specifically say so in its contract proposal.
Association President Pete Gorraiz said he can't talk about the specifics of what the group will ask for. He added that the last election proved that voters support city employees.
Mayor-elect Greg Stanton and District 5 Councilman-elect Daniel Valenzuela, a Glendale firefighter, will be seated on the council next month.
Employee pay, pension reform and union influence were some of the biggest campaign issues candidates fought over in the recent mayor and City Council elections in August and November.
"The candidates that tried to demonize the employees lost," Gorraiz said. "The message is let's continue to be teammates with the city and work together."
*As always, if you locate any Piccioli's Points in your daily searches that I have missed, please send them to me so I can add them!*
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