The following was published by Sal DiCiccio (Phoenix City Councilman) on 1/10/2012

What you are about to read will create a significant stir at city hall, and I need you to pass this information to others. 

 Phoenix is about to enter another round of union negotiations, and I am insisting the public see all the demands and be involved in the discussions.  

 You will be told that these negotiations should be done behind closed doors, away from your eyes.  But they forgot an important point: You are the boss, and it is you who needs to approve the direction and final plan.

 It was those backroom negotiations that got Phoenix into financial trouble, and it was that cozy relationship with the union heads that now needs to be fixed. I am your  representative. My one and only job is to protect you.

 In the past six years, you have heard that Phoenix had no money. The city made significant cuts to libraries, after-school programs and senior services — while raising taxes and fees on families and businesses.  At the same time, behind closed doors, using that "good relationship with the unions," Phoenix doled out more than $500 million in increased compensation.  Now the unions are demanding more and more from you and your family — more money and more power. And some unions are demanding that the negotiations to spend your money continue to be kept secret.

 While we still see our neighbors out of work, losing their homes and struggling to just get by, the government unions believe they are entitled to more. The private sector and private sector unions have seen cuts between 15-25% while government unions have seen an increase payout of 23%.

 Today I am releasing the written demands from the unions along with a breakdown of what those demands mean to you in money and more power over your pocketbook.  Have no doubt the information below will make quite a few insiders upset because it exposes each demand by each union.

 I need your input, and I need your help in what you want done in these negotiations.  I will forward all responses to management so that your voice will for the first time be heard in the negotiations.

 Here are a few of the union demands we will be negotiating that total more than $100 million in more money for them:

 Union demands

 •Unions demand continuation of pay raises.

 •Unions demand restoring the 3.2% cut (the cost over $100 millon).  This was a onetime cut over a two-year budget. This amounted to about 1.6% and only about .5% per year coming from salary.   Yes, a salary cut of less than 1%.  At the same time, nearly half the staff received a 4.5% raise each year.

 •Unions demand veto power over changing job roles, over changing shifts to save overtime and limiting other scheduling options for city workers.

 •Unions demand Phoenix is prevented from saving money by contracting out any services.

 •Unions demand that all negotiation be kept secret.

Questions

 •Is it sustainable for 15,000 employees to average $100,000 per year in total compensation?  

•Is it fair to taxpayers that a first year employee receives 40.5 days off in the first year of service — which goes up year after year?  

•Should government staff be allowed to roll over sick leave and vacation days (one employee cashed out more than $144,000 last year)?  

•Should taxpayers continue to fund union activity, including paying city employed union leaders not to do their city jobs?  This amounted to $3.9 million last year alone.  

•Is it ethical for Phoenix hand out more pay raises while citizens pay for a food tax? Is it really unreasonable to ask that pay raises stop for a two-year period?

Sal DiCiccio

City of Phoenix

Councilman, District 6

602-262-7491

coun...@phoenix.gov