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Union rep urges council to treat workers with dignity; council adjourns to closed session on AFSCME negotiations
Summary
Gary Ferrars, union representative for Local 2703, asked the Atwater City Council to remember and respect municipal workers ahead of a closed-session labor negotiation with AFSCME. Council announced a closed session with labor negotiators, and councilmembers also reported on training, a City Hall remodeling project called Civic 2, and a sandbag station for anticipated rain.
Gary Ferrars, who identified himself as the union representative for Local 2703 representing Atwater’s miscellaneous and clerical employees, urged the council to ‘‘remember those workers and treat them with the respect and dignity that they deserve’’ ahead of a scheduled closed-session labor negotiation.
"I am the union rep for Local, 2703," Ferrars said, addressing the mayor and council and noting the union represents miscellaneous and clerical employees at Atwater City. He asked council members to keep workers’ interests in mind when the council met in closed session later in the evening.
Following public comment, the chair announced a closed-session item described as a "conference with labor negotiators" involving AFSCME and city staff. The chair asked whether there were any public comments related to the closed-session item, heard none, and adjourned the open meeting to Conference Room A for the closed session.
Councilmembers also gave brief reports. One member said they attended a Cal Cities conference Jan. 22–24 and planned to bring information back to staff. Another member reported on training and said the midyear budget will be discussed at the next council meeting; that member confirmed the City Hall remodeling project, called Civic 2, will house community development and finance and is targeting a March move. The council was reminded there is a sandbag station at Atwater Boulevard and 1st Street and that about an inch of rain was forecast for Thursday.
No formal vote or other action on labor negotiations was recorded in the open meeting; the closed session was scheduled for council members and staff to meet with labor negotiators.
