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LaSala tells city union not to expect too much
Parity with neighboring cities unlikely, city manager says
By Sam Scott
Tuesday, City Manager Robert LaSala addressed a gathering of city workers to discuss the failure of the city and employee's union to reach a contract agreement. Two plain-clothes officers stood by in case emotions in the over-capacity council chambers got too heated. Except for a few outbreaks of boos and derisive laughter, however, the Sunnvyale Employee's Association members confined their frustrations to their questions and comments.
Both sides agree that Sunnyvale's workers are underpaid--a librarian in Sunnyvale earns nearly $1,800 a month less than one in high-paying Santa Clara. Settling on how to rectify the situation seemed more difficult.
The sides have been without a contact since January and are set to go to non-binding arbitration in the new year. LaSala said he called the meeting as a way to inform union members where they stand and to try to avoid going outside the city for a solution.
"Nobody wants to have to go through a third-party intervention," LaSala said. "I'd much rather have a mutually agreeable labor contract."
The tenor of the meeting, though, did not suggest resolution was close at hand. The biggest sticking point is how salaries are figured.
The current city offer, a five-year contract, would immediately raise pay to an average derived from similar positions on 10-city list. LaSala said he estimates that this would entail an average eight percent raise for workers.
Ben Gikis, the union's president, said he has no problem with this formula except for one big thing: he said the inclusion of East Bay cities like San Leandro, Hayward, and Richmond makes the list irrelevant to Sunnyvale, where, he said, service is better and life more expensive.
"Those cities are in it for the sole purpose of lowering the salaries," Gikis said. "Drop the lowest four or five and give us the average. We're not greedy, asking to be the top city. We'll take the local average."
That would mean offering more money--something LaSala said he is against.
"We don't have any proposal on the table that would add money to the offer."
LaSala said including data from Richmond and San Leandro is valid because they are part of the Bay Area marketplace from which the city hires.
David Nieto said the union's demand to be paid the local average would jeopardize Sunnyvale services. A letter from LaSala and Nieto estimates that the SEA position would cost the city more than $2 million over the contract's life.
"We believe they're not aware of the impact that this would have on the city's long-term budgeting process, the city's ability to absorb those costs without reductions to our levels, our ability as an employer to maintain a stable work force," Nieto said.
Gikis dismisses such remarks, saying he's heard the like for as long as he's been here. "It's just them crying that the sky is falling."
Gikis refers to a letter from Bachecki, Crom & Company, accountants hired by the union, which said "the City of Sunnyvale is in a strong financial position and can afford wage increases."
Whether the arbitrator agrees remains to be seen and may prove to be immaterial. In a comment that prompted several people to leave, LaSala said he may not follow the arbitrator's recommendation when he gives his report to council. "My advice to council may not coincide with what the arbitrator said," LaSala said.
LaSala's forthrightness seemed to earn him respect from some in the audience, even as it angered many of them.
"I have a lot of respect for someone who has the courage to give the tough answers," Jeff Egan, Parks and Recreation employee said.
A utility worker who didn't want to give his name for fear of reprisals said he doesn't begrudge the messenger, but that his message is going to have an effect on morale.
"We've still got to go to work knowing that we're paid below average, and it doesn't feel good."
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
