We are alarmed and angered at the proposals City Management has made regarding our labor contract with the City of Eugene.
Despite good faith negotiations by the AFSCME bargaining team, City Management has determined that a reduction of workers’ hours (AKA furloughs and scheduled layoffs) by up to 25% for one to six months, with none of the important protections (bumping and seniority rights, and the ability to recall into a former position), is an acceptable tool in their toolbox, ready to be used, in their words, to “right size” the City’s budgets. Further, they refuse to agree to sensible Cost of Living Advancements (COLAs), which are necessary for Union-represented employees to keep up with inflation and therefore financially support the community. These proposals are unacceptable. The former completely disregards an employee’s years of service and cuts out the core of our union’s contract. It is not a tool, but a weapon. The latter denies union-represented employees fair wages, and makes us less able to support ourselves, our families, and our community.
Union-represented employees work hard to keep the City running. Among our many tasks, we make sure Eugene’s parks are beautiful, repair roads and sidewalks, deal with storm drains and wastewater, keep the airport working, and make the Library a vibrant community center. We are the backbone of City operations, and we refuse to sign a contract that erodes our rights and undermines our livelihood. City Management needs to recognize our many contributions and alter course to eliminate these corrosive proposals. To do otherwise is unconscionable.
Sincerely,
Members and Supporters of AFSCME Local 1724