Davenport leaders clash over whether Civil Rights Commission jobs belong in AFSCME contract

Davenport officials met in a special joint session Oct. 14 to decide how to fill newly approved positions in the Davenport Civil Rights Commission and whether those jobs fall under the AFSCME Chapter 20 collective bargaining agreement.

Sam, corporation counsel for the city, told the commission and council that the positions the commission approved have “material overlap” with existing union job classifications and that “moving forward with these positions with different salaries, and not talking to the union would run us a foul chapter 20 and also, potentially put us in a grievance process with the union over these positions.” He advised that the city should either negotiate salary changes with the union, seek a side letter, or pursue a…