Toledo's AFSCME union rejects fact finder's report
BY CLAUDIA BOYD-BARRETT
BLADE STAFF WRITER

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2011/08/31/Toledo-s-AFSCME-union-rejects-fact-finder-s-report.html

The City of Toledo's largest employee union Tuesday
resoundingly rejected a fact finder's report that calls
for workers from tree trimmers to mechanics to pay more
toward health-care and pension costs and accept a wage
freeze for the next two years.

Altogether, 659 employees represented by Local 7 of the
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal
Employees voted against the report, issued last week by
independent fact finder Daniel Zeizer. Another 52
workers voted in favor. Some 200 of the union's
approximately 850 members also protested outside city
hall earlier in the day, holding up placards and
shouting slogans criticizing the proposed cuts and city
officials.

"We're just asking for a fair contract. This is taking
too much too quick," Local 7's chief steward Rick Akeman
said. "You can't take too much too fast from
hard-working people. They're very upset. ... They can't
support their families."

The report follows a hearing earlier this month in which
city and union representatives put forward their
positions on concessions sought by the administration of
Mayor Mike Bell.

The city has been seeking to rein in labor costs to help
balance its ailing budget and stretch revenues. The
report recommends employee wage freezes for 2012 and
2013, and an increase in health-care contributions over
the same period from the current 5 percent to as much as
15 percent, depending on worker income. Mr. Zeizer also
advised that the city reduce its contributions to the
employees' pensions from 10 percent to 3 percent over
the next two years.

Speaking in response to the report and protests Tuesday
afternoon, Mr. Bell said the city needs the concessions
so it can remain financially solvent. The workers should
direct their anger at the economy, not the city, Mr.
Bell said. Private businesses have already downsized,
and the city is simply following suit, the mayor added.

"What we are attempting to do is be fair to everybody.
This is not anti-union, this is very pro-citizen," the
mayor said. "We can only afford to pay what we have
inside our bank."

But union representatives said the city is attempting to
balance its budget on the backs of its lowest-paid
workers. Such concessions would cause immense hardship
to the affected employees, union officials maintained.
On average union members make $38,000 a year and would
lose about $6,000 in take-home pay if the fact finder's
recommendations are implemented, they said.

"You're looking at people who will be collecting
welfare, food stamps, and losing houses over this,"
Local 7 President Don Czerniak said. "Local 7 did not
put the city in this situation. ... Don't keep balancing
your budget and slamming us for what you guys have spent
money on."


One of the protesters, waterline repairman Butch
Bricker, said he has already seen his take-home pay drop
over the past 12 years because of other union
concessions. He said he lost his home to foreclosure
four years ago and any more cuts would leave him unable
to pay his basic bills. Mr. Bricker estimated losing
$456 a month over the next two years if the fact
finders' recommendations move ahead. His current take
home pay is $1,400 a month, he said.

"I'm already struggling," the father of two stated. "My
transportation bills are higher, my utility bills are
higher, my grocery bills are higher. I can't afford to
lose another $450 a month."

Matt Sutton, another waterline repairman and a father of
three, said he was outraged by the fact finder's
recommendations. He said city officials in higher
positions should be taking pay cuts, too.

"It's always the little man getting the hit," he said.
"We should be able to afford to at least support our
families because we work."

Mayor Bell Tuesday countered that many nonunion
employees have had to endure wage freezes too. He said
that he is earning $14,000 less a year than previous
mayor Carty Finkbeiner. This wage decrease was
recommended by an independent salary review commission,
not the mayor himself. The mayor's salary is $122,408 a
year.

Toledo City Council has scheduled a special meeting
Wednesday at 1 p.m. to discuss the fact finder's report.

Contact Claudia Boyd-Barrett

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