Unit 3 had to negotiate six furlough days per MOU year to reach the concessions demanded by the City of Phoenix. Since we don’t have the deferred compensation other units had since our members have always wanted the money in wages we had to come up with another way to reach 3.2% in concessions. It was either furlough days or further cuts to wages or cutting longevity or merit wages. With furlough days there is some benefit to the employee since they do get the day off.

As with any time off, employees must request and be approved for the time by supervision prior to taking the time off. If you take furlough pay even though the time is unpaid.

Remember, there are three paychecks in July and December this year, so those would be good months to schedule furlough days. We know some employees have scheduled vacation days for a furlough day to reach their quota. Employees are expected to keep track of their furlough obligation. Also keep in mind if you work 4-10 schedule you can take a full 10 hour furlough.

We were able to negotiate with human resources to allow employees to to take four hours off as furlough time rather than a full day in Unit 3. In some departments (with the Director’s approval) less than four hours may be taken. This would allow employees to take less than a day off for a doctor’s appointment or other activity.

Through ECHRIS you can also increase your withholding tax to lessen the effect of the furlough day on your net pay. Just remember to go back in and change it to a normal withholding after that pay period so you don’t end up owing taxes at the end of the year.

If you have any questions, you can call our office or Human Resources/Labor Relations at 602-262-6607.  We are dealing with problems as they arise on a case by case basis.

In solidarity,
Nancy Gray

Our negotiations team was not happy about agreeing to concessions, but unfortunately the City didn’t leave us a choice. If we didn’t come to an agreement with the City voluntarily then the City Council would determine what happens. In these rough economic times and with the City’s focus on saving money, they would take the concessions from whatever brought the quickest money – wage cuts, delayed merit increases or suspending longevity. The City Council can only give a one year contract so we would be back at the negotiations table next year. If the economy took a downturn or the City lost state shared revenues the City might ask for more in concessions. We tried to minimize the loss to our members with the concessions chosen. At least with a furlough day there is some benefit to the employee since they get a day off. No one is losing their merit raise or longevity pay. We also did not agree to raise the health insurance from the employee paying 20% to 25% as some other units have considered.

By settling the contract before the City Council approves the budget on March 2nd we were able to save jobs that would have been lost had we not made concessions. Those positions would be eliminated on April 5th.

By agreeing to concessions and not having them imposed on us, we are guaranteed that all wages and benefits cut or suspended will be restored on June 30, 2012. We also have language that if the economy improves a raise may be possible.

Never in my twenty-five years as President of this local has the City of Phoenix ever asked for concessions. These are challenging times. Arizona is not the only state having financial problems. Employees in other states have been faced with everything from 5% pay cuts, 35 hour work weeks and eliminating paid personal days and holidays in Ohio to 5.2% pay cuts, 8 furlough days and eliminating uniform allowances in Tulsa. Hawaii employees are paying a higher portion of their health insurance and working a four day work week. California employees are taking 104 to 156 hours of furlough time annually. Las Vegas employees took an 8% pay cut over the next two years. I am furnishing this information to you to show that we are not alone in this problem. I hope no one is selfish enough to say “Who cares what other cities are doing?”

Unfortunately, with the number of unit members we have lost over the past couple of years and faced losing this year we could not idly sit by and do nothing. Remember, the job we are saving may be yours or your co-worker’s which would affect you on a daily basis.

As always on behalf of the Executive Board, we thank you for your support.

From the President’s Desk is a featured column in the semi-annual newsletter from the Local 2960. You may download the rest of the newsletter in the PDF format from here. (Newsletter – Feb 2010 – SE.pdf)

Mailed separately earlier this week was a packet including your 2010 calendar  and holiday party invitation. I would like the stewards to post their copy of the letter on their union bulletin board at work for everyone to see.

We recently had a representative from AFSCME International hold a training session at our office.  The local is starting an organizing drive to sign up 200 new members by July 2010.  I want to thank the stewards who attended this training session on a Saturday.     Remember – the local gives each member who signs up a new member an organizing bonus.  Just ask your co-workers if they belong to the union – if they don’t, offer them a sign up card.  Only members have a say in our next contract and whether it is ratified or not.

Once again I thank you for your membership in AFSCME Local 2960 and wish everyone a very happy 2010.