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Virginia City Council approves human resources coordinator job description despite union objections
Summary
Council voted to approve and advertise an updated human resources coordinator job description after a public comment from an AFSCME representative who warned shifting payroll duties could violate the union contract and lead to grievances or layoffs.
Amanda Wilson, a labor representative with AFSCME, told the Virginia City Council during public comment that the human resources coordinator job description under consideration would inappropriately move payroll duties currently performed by an existing union position.
"We will challenge any action passed tonight that outsources payroll work from our unit," Wilson said, listing concerns that the change could create an overburdened position, lead to layoffs of a long-term employee, and generate contract grievances or unfair labor practice charges.
The council discussed the position during its personnel and committee-of-the-whole meetings earlier in June and moved on June 10 to approve the updated human resources coordinator job description and to authorize advertising the position with the revised posting. Councilor Bachstader moved the resolution; Councilor Motley seconded. Councilor Preeti said she would not support the action "at this point in time" and asked for further conversation with the union, but the motion carried after the council voted in favor.
City Administrator Brit noted the item had been reviewed in committee and that council members could table the item to seek a legal opinion, including from the city attorney, but the council chose to proceed. Council discussion included a request for legal clarification about whether payroll functions could be assigned to the new position; a city attorney was not present at the meeting. Councilor Beyondich asked whether the city attorney could weigh in; council members said they could seek further clarity if desired.
The personnel committee had earlier approved a package of related personnel changes and had discussed moving some duties out of the finance director's role into a dedicated human resources position. At the June 10 meeting the council also approved other job-description updates and personnel-related motions that had been recommended from committee.
The union representative’s remarks and the explicit statement that AFSCME would "challenge any action passed tonight that outsources payroll work from our unit" represent a potential implementation risk that could result in a grievance, arbitration, or other labor action if the union pursues it. Council members noted that additional legal clarification from the city attorney could be sought and that discussions with the union could continue as the position is posted and recruitment proceeds.
The council did not provide a roll-call vote tally for the motion approving the job description in the meeting record; several councilors voiced reservations during discussion. Councilor Freely subsequently asked that her earlier opposition and concerns be recorded in the meeting record.
The council approved posting the updated human resources coordinator job description; further changes or formal legal determinations were left to later action should the union file a grievance or request a legal ruling.
