A News Cafe.com received a press release yesterday from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1021 with this headline: City of Redding Wants Union To Break The Law, followed by news that the SEIU filed charges against the city. (Here’s the press release.) Below is our conversation with Kurt Starman, Redding City Manager, about this matter.
Q: Kurt Starman, we’re following up on the situation where the SEIU filed charges against the city. We wanted to give the city a chance to respond. First, how do you respond to the union’s allegation that city officials refused workers’ offers to help reduce the budget via pay cuts unless the employees waived union representation?
As you know, the severe recession is having a significant impact on the City of Redding’s budget. Therefore, the City asked SEIU to defer its next wage increase (i.e., a 3% wage increase in December 2009). SEIU rejected the City’s proposal, but indicated that it may be willing to consider a temporary furlough program. SEIU also indicated, however, that it wanted to retain its right to grieve the City’s decision to reduce its workforce. This, in turn, could nullify the benefits associated with a furlough program and create significant liability for the City. SEIU wants to work with the City on a temporary furlough program, on the one hand, and then turnaround and file a grievance against the City, on the other hand. That, of course, is not acceptable to the City.
Q: How do you respond to the union’s allegation that the city is asking workers to accept “unreasonable and illegal demands”?
The City denies SEIU’s allegation. The City does not believe that SEIU’s complaint has merit. It appears as if the real purpose of the complaint is to generate media attention.
Q: Do you see any areas of potential compromise between the city and its union workers?
The City has already reached an agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – Maintenance Unit. In addition, the City continues to meet with the Redding Peace Officers Association and the Redding Police Managers Association. These discussions have been amicable and productive. It is regrettable that the City and SEIU have not been able to reach an agreement, too.
Q: How do you respond to the charges filed by the union against the city?
The City denies the charges. The City does not believe that the complaint has merit.
Q: Anything else you’d like to say?
As noted above, it appears as if the real motivation for the complaint is to generate media attention. This is not uncommon for SEIU, but it is not constructive.
