Plenty of work and anticipation, accompanied passage Wednesday of a pair of contracts for city union employees
In a special session, the Common Council voted to ratify both the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) contract and the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA) dispatchers contract.
Johnny Hinojosa, president of the local 3760 AFSCME union and employee at the city's water utility, said workers were unsure how the council would vote Wednesday, after final negotiations went to midnight Monday.
"We were nervous all day," Hinojosa said about union members. "We didn't know how they would vote."
Two of the five-member Salary and Personnel Committee, Michael Boyce and Kent Kallembach, didn't indicate Monday which way they would vote at council, according to Hinojosa.
Boyce and Kallembach said they wanted to see a one-year contract - even if the city guaranteed no layoffs.
With the 2011 budget already set, Boyce said the city could have demonstrated its commitment to the employees, and deal with state aid changes to the budget during negotiations next year.
The two-year contract "leaves the city with only one option, and that's layoffs," he said.
Kallembach said the city union contracts terms are relative to what the county passed.
"That puts the city in a much better position when this contract expires," he added.
Several council members and Hinojosa said they were pleased with the negotiations process.
"Bargaining, in fact, was done mostly by the employees, not our union representative," Hinojosa said. "It showed the city that the employees were bargaining in good faith." Hinojosa said negotiations are usually conducted between the union representative and the city attorney.
Charles Schuringa, chairman of the Salary and Personnel Committee, called the contracts "good solutions."
There was a "show of support by union members," who a lot of concessions, he said.
Chuck Koch, president of the council, thanked the employees for their input during negotiations.
"Employees are the front line of the city," he said. "I'm very happy with the way they have conducted themselves."
Thurston Hanson, the only council member to vote against ratifying the contracts, was unavailable for comment following the meeting.
In a special session, the Common Council voted to ratify both the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) contract and the Wisconsin Professional Police Association (WPPA) dispatchers contract.
Johnny Hinojosa, president of the local 3760 AFSCME union and employee at the city's water utility, said workers were unsure how the council would vote Wednesday, after final negotiations went to midnight Monday.
"We were nervous all day," Hinojosa said about union members. "We didn't know how they would vote."
Two of the five-member Salary and Personnel Committee, Michael Boyce and Kent Kallembach, didn't indicate Monday which way they would vote at council, according to Hinojosa.
Boyce and Kallembach said they wanted to see a one-year contract - even if the city guaranteed no layoffs.
With the 2011 budget already set, Boyce said the city could have demonstrated its commitment to the employees, and deal with state aid changes to the budget during negotiations next year.
The two-year contract "leaves the city with only one option, and that's layoffs," he said.
Kallembach said the city union contracts terms are relative to what the county passed.
"That puts the city in a much better position when this contract expires," he added.
Several council members and Hinojosa said they were pleased with the negotiations process.
"Bargaining, in fact, was done mostly by the employees, not our union representative," Hinojosa said. "It showed the city that the employees were bargaining in good faith." Hinojosa said negotiations are usually conducted between the union representative and the city attorney.
Charles Schuringa, chairman of the Salary and Personnel Committee, called the contracts "good solutions."
There was a "show of support by union members," who a lot of concessions, he said.
Chuck Koch, president of the council, thanked the employees for their input during negotiations.
"Employees are the front line of the city," he said. "I'm very happy with the way they have conducted themselves."
Thurston Hanson, the only council member to vote against ratifying the contracts, was unavailable for comment following the meeting.