Committee amends payroll-deduction rules after firefighters press for automatic deductions

The Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee on Oct. 13 approved a substituted ordinance that gives the city’s chief financial officer authority to set administrative standards for payroll deductions to cover dues for labor organizations and temporarily allowed payroll deductions for Progressive Firefighters of Atlanta.

The substitute, offered by Councilmember Andrea L. Boone, broadened an item initially drafted to recognize the Progressive Firefighters of Atlanta Labor Organization for payroll deduction. The committee voted to approve the substitute 4 yeas, 1 abstention, and then referred the measure to the Finance Executive Committee for further review.

Why it matters: Progressive Firefighters’ leaders said automatic payroll deduction is necessary to sustain the organization’s outreach and member support. Progressive Firefighters speakers described their work inside the department and in neighborhoods and asked the committee for recognition that would permit payroll deduction.

Members of Progressive Firefighters — including Jason Glasgow, Tequila Martin and Tyler Nelson — told the committee the group does community outreach and provides internal support and that payroll deduction is the “bare minimum” to maintain services. Tequila Martin said, “Payroll deduction is the foundation that we need.”

During committee debate Councilmember Antonio Lewis said he was concerned about potential effects on other unions and abstained from the final substitute vote, saying he would gather more input from existing organized labor partners before taking a position. The Department of Law confirmed a committee member may abstain for any reason at this stage of committee, unlike full council where abstentions are limited to conflicts of interest.

The substitute text removes a provision that would have applied the change only to Progressive Firefighters and instead amends chapter 114, section 114-28 of the city code to authorize the chief financial officer to promulgate administrative standards under which labor organizations may seek payroll-deduction status. Committee members immediately moved to refer the ordinance to the Finance Executive Committee, citing the fiscal and administrative implications.

Next steps: The measure was referred to the Finance Executive Committee for additional review and potential amendments before it returns to full council.