04/14/1969 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~1!16 4/14/69 A vote was taken on the main motion and motion carried ~nanimously. Mr. Gtibskov moved seconded by Mr. McDonald to rescind the earlier action of the Council calling for adjournment at 10:00. Motion carried. I Mr. Mohr asked to continue the discussion Mrs. Beal began, and Mayor Anderson said ,the ,chair recognized Mr. Mohr. Mr. Mohr asked the city administration to prepare a statement as to the direction it will take and procedures it will undertake to deal with the imminent strike situation which the City may face on the 15th of May. Press releases from the firefighters was very explicit, and Mr. Mohr feels there has been a breakdown in communication and budget committee handling of requests from the firefighters. Firefighters will take a strike vote on May 15 - reason for the delay was to allow the city to deal with this particular problem. Mr. Mohr thinks it is very very impor<tant that this Council emphasizes where the responsibility is at this moment. The responsibility is with the administration to map out a strategy to a possible walkout of .the firemen~ Mr. Mohr wants a report from the adminis- tration so that the Council can be advised as to procedure or a possible course of actio~ in this regard, and requests such a report from the administration at a Council work session. Mr. Mohr feels the Council must ,be informed by the administration what procedures are to be followed. , , Dr. Purdy indicated he doesn't feel this is a staff item ~ this is Council action, Dr.' Purdy said the firemen had received substantial increases over the past few years. He thought the city had been as fair as possible and felt it was not the obligation of the staff to give this kind of report. If the firemen take a strike vote, then the Manager has to advise the Council. Mr. Mohr said he was trying to emphasize a Council formal position. The Council has certainly been informed of a problem in'the city, and they want to anticipate the problem. Mr. Mohr was trying to emphasize that he would like a report from the administration on the public problem that has arisen, and wants to know how the Council can anticipate that problem and what direction the Council might take in order to deal with it. I Mr. Paul Hoffman said he believed the firemen couldn't be blamed if they decide to strike. They must be recognized and must have someone they can talk to. There must be regular, systematic ways in which grievances can be aired. Mr. Mohr asked the Mayor to rule on his request for a report from the administration as to plans and procedures which they hope to undertake in order to deal with this possible up~coming crisis in the city. The Mayor said he thought this was a debatable issue. Mrs. Hayward said she thought this was a reasonable :~request for a report from the administration about what direction it will take in trying ,to resolve this difficulty. Mrs. Hayward moved seconded by Mr. Mohr that such a report be placed before the Council at its next meeting. Dr. Purdy asked what the report was to be. 4 Mr. Mohr explained that this information was needed were a strike to be called, or with the prospect of might do to avoid it. relative to steps the administration might take a strike, and what the councilor administration Mrs. Beal commented on the legal aspects of a public employes strike and asked the Manager whether he would go for an injunction, ~hether he would immediately fire all firemen, or whether we would, as a city government, hire strike breakers. She would like to know whether it was advisable, in his opinion, to go to those extreme steps, or whether it was not better to avoid them. I The City Attorney had a question about whether the discussion was about a program the City Council m:gght want before or after a strike. The Council should make it ,clear to the administ,ration what it is ta lking about. Mr. Teague said he would assume the Council ~ould have a hearing and a chance to talk over collective bargaining. In his opinion, the Manager did not know right now what he could or would want to do, and Mr. Teague did not think the Council should ask him at 'this time. Naturally the Council will want to know at the time it happens. Mr. Mohr wanted to know what was to happen between April 14 and the 15th of May, saying that, depending on what action the city administration might take in this regard, the firefighters of this City will take a vote on whether or not to strike the city. The Council should anticipate what it intends to do. Mr. Mohr said that was the sense of Mrs. Hayward's motion - that the Council can find out by report what steps are best or important in order to cope with this situation.. Mr. McDonald asked why the strike was planned? Was it because of wages or collective bargaining? Mr. Flynn answered that the strike vote stems from frustration on wages. They still feel they are negotiating on collective bargaining. If they had collective bargaining,' they would not be in this position. The threat does stem from a wage discussion. The Manager said he was still not sure from the motion how extensive this requested report was to be and what period of time it was to cover. There had been spme disagreement in the discussion, and if the motion is adopted, he would like to know what it includes. .- Mrs. Hayward said the motion was "What was going to be done between now and May 15". Mr. Mohr said he would like to, confine it between the period April 14 and May 15 - what shall be administrative strategy and procedure which they would recommend to the Council. ~ A vote was taken on the motion. Beal, Hayward, Wingard and Mohr voted in favor and Teague, Anderson, Purdy, Gribskov and McDonald voted against. Motion failed. 4/14/69 - 11