National City council reports closed-session instruction to labor negotiators after complaint about alleged threatening remark

Vice Mayor Bush reported a complaint to the City of National City Council that an employee who serves on a bargaining team told the vice mayor they had been told "remarks... that seemed to be threatening, retaliatory, and in violation of council policy number 604" by an elected official.

"Policy number 604 prohibits that conduct that creates a hostile, intimidating, or retaliatory environment for city employees, including union leaders," Vice Mayor Bush said, and asked the city attorney to take the concern and ensure it is handled and brought back in closed session at the next meeting. The vice mayor said the incident had been reported to staff on April 22.

After public comment, the council recessed into closed session for a single agenda item: conference with labor negotiators. The employee organizations identified in closed session were the Municipal Employee Association, National City Firefighters Association, the Police Officers Association and unrepresented groups. When the council returned to open session, the city attorney reported that the council had provided negotiators with instructions "to respond to each of the bargaining units." No further details of those instructions were disclosed in open session.

Procedural action taken earlier in the meeting: the council approved Mayor Ron Morrison's request to attend remotely under the requirements of Assembly Bill 2449. The motion to accept the mayor's virtual attendance and his stated justification was moved and seconded and approved with no recorded opposition.

The council did not disclose any agreement terms or votes on collective bargaining agreements in open session; staff indicated the matter continued to labor negotiations in closed session.