Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Rights topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee clears Teamsters-backed change to city ordinance so Mayor—s Action Center staff can organize
Summary
Teamsters Local 135 representatives and the mayor—s office told the committee a proposed amendment to Section 291-6021 clarifies which mayor's office roles are "confidential employees," allowing Mayor's Action Center customer-service representatives to unionize; the committee passed the proposal on consent.
Dustin Roche, president of Teamsters Local 135, and attorney David Flink told the Administration & Finance Committee they proposed an amendment to city code (section 291-6021) to clarify the definition of confidential employees in the city—s collective-bargaining ordinance.
They said the Mayor's Action Center customer-service representatives (CSRs) do not perform confidential labor-relations duties and therefore should be eligible to organize and select representation. Teamsters Local 135 said the group sought representation and had filed for an election under the ordinance.
David Flink explained confidential-employee status generally excludes workers privy to management labor-strategy or personnel decisions, such as a labor-relations director—s personal secretary. The proposed change, Flink said, would ensure CSRs are treated like other similarly situated city workers.
Chief Deputy Mayor Dan Parker said the administration supports the technical clarification. Parker told the committee that, upon committee passage and full-council approval, the administration would move forward to recognize organizing that had already occurred and would proceed to the next phases.
Councilors asked questions about whether other mayor's-office groups (for example, other M&A staff) would be affected; Teamsters said the organizing effort at this time centered on the MAC staff. Committee members also asked about pay negotiations and union dues; Teamsters representatives said dues are voluntary and contract terms would be negotiated if representation is recognized.
The committee moved, seconded and approved the amendment by voice vote in committee. The administration indicated it would recognize organizing efforts and progress to bargaining steps following passage by full council.
