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Labor 3, Ocean Shores 0
According to the budget amendment that will be presented at Monday night’s City Council meeting, Ocean Shores is paying labor dispute settlements of nearly $200,000 for: 1) settlement with former Fire Chief Jim Hodges, $72,000; 2) settlement over ambulance billing, $25,446; and 3) furlough/COLA settlement, $99,721.
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6 Responses to “Labor 3, Ocean Shores 0”
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(Sorry. My remark was wrong, and too painful for this blog. It was definitly a sand box remark. Sometimes I just forget where I am. Please forgive me.) I do agree with Walrus. The mayor and council are involved in too many close relationships with city workers. Most have all known each other or worked together for years. This is obviously a SMALL town. I don’t see how impartiality, which would be critical, could possibly play a part in these types of negociations.
Hopefully, the new Mayor and Council will be smart enough to realize that NONE of the above is qualified to negotiate labor contracts (see Mceachin) and will find a real labor contract negotiating firm.
Yes, it would certainly be great to have a stipulation in a labor agreement that prohibits Ocean Shores from ‘bending over’ at labor’s demand. Let’s hope our new mayor is strong EDITED: DOES SOMEONE NEED SOME SANDBOX TIME?
As to Hodges, they already said yes to the agreement. This is only shifting sands of money!
Something to think about when selecting the next Mayor and Council. Especially the Mayor who negotiates the next contracts in 2012 and 2013. We can only hope that he/she can add features that give us the ability to modify tasks, positions, days of work, and hours of work. Maybe something that says that the are only contracted for 32 hour weeks and the extra 8 hours is optional based upon need certified by they council. Then the city will have control of the labor expense. The ability to terminate based upon failure to meet education requirements within a prescribed time. The ability to tell employees that in order to maintain the position, they need to seek education and skills at their expense. If you don’t meet standard, you are let go. Yes, it sounds like corporate America! But look at state workers, 3% cut this year in pay. Other places are doing the same. Benefits are being cut too. Medical is requiring more co-pays and are limited to the employee only. Family are at employee expense. Many firms say that if an employee’s family member is under another employer’s plan, they can’t be under that firm’s plan. Thus it reduces their costs. Just a reality of the world out there now.
Wonder what would happen if the Council said NO. It would be interesting to know the specific basis for Hodges claim.