HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - June 7, 1989 (36)CO3.4CIL COMMUNI CAI -_ON
TO: THE QTY COUNCIL
FROM: THE QTY MANAGERS OFFICE
CCUNC]L N EEF,N DATE
JUNE 7, 1989
SUBJECT: QTY CIOLN3L POSITION R9544)]v r SENATE BILL 1127 (C. GREEM) PROVIDNG FOR LOCAL
AUIHORIlY TO PEtM17 COMPULSORY AND BINDING ARBIIRAHON FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
EMPLOYEES
PREPARED BY: Assistant City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION Council adopt the attached Resolution No 89-65
opposing SB 1127 which opposes compulsory and binding
arbitration for police -fire employees.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Senate Appropriations Committee has reported to
2) Police and fire unions state that compulsory and binding arbitration
prohibits strikes.
Strikes affecting public safety i s ruvv against the California law.
Police and fire employees are well paid with the best possible set of
fringe benefits.
3) Local option provision does not minimize bad policy.
The fact that an ordinance makes something permissible does not make it
an acceptable labor relations procedure. I t i s bad public policy for a
legislative body to abdicate its responsibility to its employees and
citizens to a non -elected non -local person.
4) Unfair To Other. Employees.
Compulsory and binding arbitration gives police and fire employees
first priority over other employees and services in the local budget
process. Remember, Council has no recourse to an arbitrator's award.
They have turned the budget over to an outsider.
Respectfully submitted, -_�erry L. Glenn
Assistant City Manager
JLQ b r
A ttachment
LIMILD/D
the Senate
Floor SB
1127 which permits cities to
establish
a system
of compulsory and binding
arbitration
for police
and firefighters. W should b.e
opposed to this bill for
the following
reasons:
1) Compulsory and
binding arbitration destroys
good faith bargaining.
The parties at
the table are
not concerned with reaching an agreement
but to posture
to be in the
best possible position for the arbitration
process.
2) Police and fire unions state that compulsory and binding arbitration
prohibits strikes.
Strikes affecting public safety i s ruvv against the California law.
Police and fire employees are well paid with the best possible set of
fringe benefits.
3) Local option provision does not minimize bad policy.
The fact that an ordinance makes something permissible does not make it
an acceptable labor relations procedure. I t i s bad public policy for a
legislative body to abdicate its responsibility to its employees and
citizens to a non -elected non -local person.
4) Unfair To Other. Employees.
Compulsory and binding arbitration gives police and fire employees
first priority over other employees and services in the local budget
process. Remember, Council has no recourse to an arbitrator's award.
They have turned the budget over to an outsider.
Respectfully submitted, -_�erry L. Glenn
Assistant City Manager
JLQ b r
A ttachment
LIMILD/D
RESOLUTION NO. 89-65
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY CULINCIL
OPPOSING SENATE BILL 1127 (C. GREEN) PROVIDING FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY TO
PERMIT COMPULSORY AND BINDING ARBIIPATUN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES
AND ASKING THE STATE SENATE FOR A NO VOTE ON SENATE BILL, 1127
WHEREAS, the Senate Appropriations Connnittee sent to the Senate Floor
SB 1127 (C. Green) permitting local agencies to establish a system of
compulsory and binding arbitration; and
WHEREAS, the Lodi City Council believes local agencies should not
abdicate their legislative responsibilities to a non -elected,
non -accountable per;on; and
WHEREAS, 'he Lodi City Council opposes this legislation for the
following reasons :
1, Inequity. While the bill technically applies to the state,
it permits an arbitrator's award to be subject to the state
appropriations process. In short, SB 1127 does not really
institute a system of compulsory and binding arbitration for the
state. Wy does the state get to decide if it can pay for an
award, when focal agencies simply have to accept an award no
matter how detrimental to other services and employees?
2. Destroys Good Faith Collective Bargaining. Compulsory and
binding arbitration is the antithesis of good faith collective
bargaining. The parties at the table are no longer concerned
with reaching agreement. Each side i s forced to posture and
"play the game" to be in the best position for the arbitration
process.
3. Strike Prohibition a Phony Issue. Police and fire unions
claim they want compulsory and binding arbitration to stop
strikes. Strikes are now prohibited for these employees. Local
government employees have been bargaining for over 20 years with
relatively few strikes. Police and fire employees are the best
paid public employees with the best fringe benefits in the
nation. "Public employee strikes" i s a non -issue.
4. Local Option Provision Does Not Minirnize Bad Policy. The
fact that SB 1127 is subject to local adoption through an
ordinance does not make compulsory and binding arbitration an
acceptable labor relations procedure. Mniy bills which merely
provide for "local option" or enact policy subject to a "vote of
the people" are defeated in the Legislature every day because the
proposals constitute bad public policy. This same judgment
should be exercised on SB 1127.
dFUILrai,1011 yeves poijce ana Tire employees rirst priority over
other employees. -and services in the local budget process. it
will only widen the already existing gap between safety employees
and other employees;'
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lodi City Council opposes SB
1127 and hereby asks all members of the State Senate for a NO vote on
SB 1127.
Dated: June 7, 1989
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 89-64 was passed and adopted
by the City Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held
June 7, 1989 by the following vote:
Ayes : Council Members - Hinchman, Olson, Pinkerton, Reid and
Snider (Mayor)
Noes : Council Members - None
Absent: Council Members - None
Alice M. Reimche
City Clerk