Concessions agreed to by Teamsters Local No. 439 would have the union’s members take 12 planned furlough days between now and the end of June 2011.
The agreement, according to the city staff report, would also establish a “second tier” of benefits for local Teamsters members. New hires would see reduced retirement benefits.
Also, Teamsters agreed to forgo any cost of living adjustments.
In exchange, the city will agree to not lay off any union members for the remainder of the 2010-11 fiscal year — 23½ job slots occupied by Teamsters were eliminated in July as part of a raft of budget cuts. The city will also increase its contribution to union members’ health care coverage, but by no more than $75 a month, per member.
The union’s bargaining unit has already OK’d the concessions. All that’s needed for the deal to go through is the City Council’s approval.
According to city staff, the moves would save Tracy $432,000 in general fund spending this fiscal year. General fund spending was tagged at $46.1 million for 2010-11, with a deficit being plugged by $4.8 million in reserve funds.
At a glance
• WHAT: City Council meeting
• WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17
• WHERE: City Council chambers, 333 Civic Center Drive
It also has a clause that comes with a citizens oversight committee.
1. There is a lady in yesterday's news that was nabbed by the police in no time flat.
2. There's something funny in the tea.
Bottom line:
No cuts! And it only costs me less than two cents per cup of coffee. I'll drink my coffee in a safer city.
At any rate. The current tax is already lower than adjacent cities. Even with the tax increase the tax is still lower than adjacent cities.
I'll pay the extra fifty dollars when (and if) I purchase a new car in the next five years. After that, the tax goes away.
Safe, and simple.
This Tea Party must have been canabalized by the lunatics.
I think you are trying carefully to cast me and the TEA party as wanting layoffs and I understand that, because if an honest appraisal of the numbers takes place and the fear mongering stops, then the issues can be worked out.
Evelyn Tolbert gave the most telling comment from the dais on Tuesday night. She said, in essence, that it is the public coming to the meetings and the taxpayers getting involved that will change the way things are done.
Other council members thanked the members of the public for input(the few that were there). In some cases that is lip service I guess, but what Evelyn said is true. This is me, getting involved. There are others, and our numbers will grow.
You expect each teamster to give up about $25,000.00 each during the next fiscal year to balance the budget? but you wont give up another 1/2 cent. I'm sure those teamsters will say, Sorry get rid of positions now. We are done giving back.
Manteca, Stockton, Ripon all gave concessions back to thier cities. When they finally said we cant or wont give any more back. Those cities had no choice but to eliminate positions. I believe Manteca also imposed a increase in Sales taxes. But it was to late to avoid loosing 40 cops. Why dont you move to Manteca and call the police there, see what your no vote is going to get you.
That is why the process for next year when the reserves have dwindled down to the minimum has to start now.
I am not wrong, the MOU is only for 1 year, what part of "get concessions for the next years budget" did you not understand?
You will see more info forthcoming in the newspaper detailing where the city is lying to you, the taxpayer to try and get MEASURE E passed.
How are they lying?
They are already giving up 12 of those days.
I have medical/dental/vision.
401k matching and stock options.
City pays for thier boots because they use them for work. The city doesn't pay for the employee's Sketchers and shopping shoes.
Let's now wait around till the FD and PD get laid off to figure it all out.
Please.
Your wrong. the city can not re open negotations until the current contracts expire.
1/2 of one cent for every dollar spent will ensure that the cops and firemen show up to my house IN TIME and with ENOUGH PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT to protect me.
and I do not claim to know all the details of every dollar, but it is clear that the city staff and city council members are making false statements, the council has leverage in these negotiations. If there is no money, people will get laid off.
The TAXPAYERS of Tracy can strengthen this leverage by sending a clear message, show up at the city council meeting, email your city council and tell them, and above all vote NO ON MEASURE E.
The city can go into negotiation to get concessions for the next years budget. They have the leverage of layoffs, as pink knows the only way they can save is to get voluntary concessions, because the city unions have ironclad contracts and gold plated benefits.
How many voters in Tracy get 13 paid holidays, 12 paid vacation days start from year 1, 90% paid medical / dental / vision, 30% of your salary paid into a pension you get at 55, and myriad additional benefits. Read the teamsters MOU at the city website, I already linked it, to get the full bennies package. Comp hours, stand by pay, allowances for uniforms, boots, tools, etc and so on
I am not saying that some or even much of this is not deserved, in fact it is! I am saying that there is room to negotiate some temporary giveback from these unions in a severe downturn. We the taxpayers are all feeling the pain.
In your opinion is this an accurate assment?
They saved the $432,000.00 by getting 12 furloughs per year and docking pay.
Then traded cost of living (COLA) for benefit.
Doesn't the city get a tax break on the benefits?
I would think any fair agreement should allow clause for promotions. And contrary to popular belief, cutting unfilled positions shows that there were changes made. Even before union negotiations took place.
The article says, "by no more than $75.00". New hires will see reduced benes. All employees will forego a cost of living increase (COLA) which amounts to savings over existing planned budget of $432,000.
All this is known, but what's not clear is how you could mitigate not cutting police and fire? I suspect you assumed budgets have not projected for growth. If you ask someone to forego (COLA) from 2007 to 2012, what does the Tea Party think would happen?
Going back to 2007 budget is not linking to the past, it is meant to show that spending has gone higher and higher in declining revenues. Now when the city sees we will be at the bare minimum reserve in another year, what is the answer? Offer the union more benefits and ask for a tax increase.
The two are linked. This is the situation now. If citizens do not act now to tell the city to start spending more wisely, we will be in a worse situation next year.
The statement that they cut 23½ job slots is not a cut because most everything is an unfilled position. I don't know how many, if any, have been laid off. but Tracy has not laid off a SINGLE police officer or firefighter (they are not teamsters afaik).
Zane Johnston also used the term "pay cuts" when discussing the teamsters forgoing a COLA, That is not a cut in pay for anyone. Their pay is still the same, and the MOU still allows for promotions, step increases and other means of employees getting increases in pay.
It sounds like you are saying not to vote on Measure E because they didn't cut back in 2007.
If so, your numbers are linked to the past. The article says they had made cuts twice now. Last weekend a ultralight escaped from the airport. So I would think there is not enough police as it is.
I think the expectations may be a tad bit too high. And risky.
Anyway, if the voters don't approve it I'm sure something will get done. Don't you agree?
It's ludicrous to even say "the Tea Party going after fire and police"
The TEA Party is going after excessive spending in Tracy City Hall which has caused the budget deficit.
I would like to know what happened to the Tea Party. I once thought they made a few valid points, although not all. And I appreciated their sign on I-680 which reads, "Vote the BUMS out!".
But I don't see the point in the Tea Party going after fire and police. I do know a few police officers in Tracy who chose to work here when we know they could make more money working in the Bay.
I think it is correct to have a concern about these services staying at the level we have become accustomed to. I also appreciated the speedy aprehension that we have all become accustomed to in Tracy by the TPD. And the record response times by TFD.
Do you have a plan to mitigate this reduction in service if you are promoting that? No disrespect intended. Others would not have asked. I would simply like to know just what the Tea Party is thinking.