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PUC approves bureau budgets as unions press meet-and-confer over proposed real estate reorganization
Summary
The commission approved proposed bureau budgets including a proposed reorganization of Real Estate operations; union representatives (Local 21) urged expedited meet-and-confer, saying the proposal could eliminate classifications and should be negotiated.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission approved the proposed bureau budgets for fiscal years 2011'12 and 2012'13 after public comment from union representatives urging faster meet-and-confer negotiations over a proposed reorganization of the Real Estate bureau.
Union representatives from IFPTE Local 21 said they support the budget process generally but expressed concern that the proposed reorganization would eliminate entire classifications (the 4100 series) and that management had raised performance and disciplinary issues during union meetings. Sharon Jenkins, a Local 21 representative, asked the commission not to adopt the proposed budget without resolving the classification and meet-and-confer issues. Peter Saltzman, counsel to Local 21, urged the commission to instruct staff to move promptly on additional meet-and-confer sessions.
Commissioners and staff responded that budget approval is within the commission's purview and does not, by itself, complete civil-service or disciplinary procedures. Commissioner comments emphasized their expectation that management and the union continue negotiations and that the commission would rely on established civil-service processes.
The commission voted to approve the proposed budgets after discussion; staff said they would continue to meet with union representatives and provide formal responses to union letters and audit-related comments.
Public commenters also raised concerns about specific property dispositions (Sixteenth/Seventeenth and Folsom) and the PUC's real estate decisions. Staff said they would continue to meet and confer and provide follow-up.
