Code
Enforcement Attack
As we
have heard there is a bit of a witch hunt going on in Code Enforcement. In
addition to a very difficult job, they have now added suspensions and
pre-termination hearings to increase their burdens and stress levels. To try
and get this mess cleaned up once and for all, we have hired Mark Hanna, a
respected and recently retired Code Enforcement manager Hanna is upset at
what is happening in Code and to some of the employees he supervised.
It is
no accident that BOTH grievance councilors we have are familiar with Code
Enforcement. Percentage wise
Code Enforcement has more grievances and disciplinary actions of any other
department we deal with. Not only that, but the department as a whole seems
to be determined to nit-pick and reject appeals for the smallest of reasons
while at the same time glossing over enormous errors on its own part. Fair
seldom comes into it at all.
While
there are many things we would like to report to our membership as a whole,
we understand that we cannot do that at this time. Many forms of defense are
being planned, but the Newland and Hanna think it best if this is not
detailed in a semi-public newsletter. Kind of, “does Ford tell General
Motors?” No, of course not. So despite the natural curiosity that members
in other departments have about this topic, we cannot jeopardize the defense
of our members or add to their stress levels by letting any details leak to
the wrong people.
We have also heard from people connected with the retirement board that
several Code Enforcement employees are checking into retiring rather than
putting up with anymore of this harassment.
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Code Enforcement - Department
Clean up? Political Ploy?
Or
attempt to Gut Civil Service?
Something
is not adding up about this whole City of
Dallas Code Enforcement
crack down, and I am not
talking about the work sheet numbers…. Word around the city is that this
is less about Code and more about politics, sound bites and an attempt to
manipulate the public come election time.
Scuttlebutt
says that the Department was under heavy political pressure to proceed
despite warnings from the auditors who were less than impressed with the
departmental record keeping and the lawyers who recommended that these
issues might not legally stand and any substandard work by inspectors should
be taken care of in a less dramatic and more traditional employee retraining
manner.
And
yet we have big splashy leaks to the media and declarations that XX number
of people will be fired. This mess will be cleaned up… and of course it
was not the fault of management or any quota system targeting the
citizens.
But
you have to wonder where is the profit in going against your own experts,
disrupting so many lives and risking a legal black eye for the city?
Well,
for one thing it makes good copy. For another when all these ill advised
actions are over turned you can cry…. “Look
at that awful Civil Service System reinstating all those fired employees….
We need to get rid of it once and for all…. Oh what luck, that very idea
is going to be one of the proposed changes to the City Charter. Let vote on
eliminating the Civil Service System right
now!”
Can
you smell the political agenda? Is this suppose to be another shining jewel
in someone’s ‘elect me to higher office’ crown?
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City Manger-Council System
of Government
Was
put into place to insulate the day to day operations of the city from
political posturing and cronyism. The system is sound, unfortunately the
separation of power rules are simply not being followed many of the current
elected officials
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Info
to share with the Citizens
The
City continues to grow, it’s aging infrastructure needs more and more
attention, and yet we spread this work load over fewer and fewer employees.
We have laid-off over a thousand employees in the last three years, putting
more strain on the remaining employees. Those reductions pale however to the
number of positions that were permanently cut in the early 90’s.
Eventually, the city is going to have to accept the fact that it
cannot balance the budget on the backs of its employees.
Currently
the city plans to discontinue the stipend received last year to slightly
soften the blow from increased medical costs and give a deserving few
‘merit’ increases. After
four years of decreased benefits, increased medical costs, pay cuts and
stagnant wages, all the civilian employees need a cost of living raise. Not
some complicated ‘merit’ scheme that discriminates against long term
employees and is dependent upon the will of the individual department or
supervisor.
It is
important to note that a staggering number of City employees are eligible to
retire in the next five years. Of the 7000 civilian employees at the city,
over 1000 can go in FY2005 if they choose. Over the next five years upwards
of 40% of our workforce can leave if they wish. This puts services severely
at risk.
While
we can possibly hire more laborers, at least until the job climate improves,
we will be hard pressed to maintain enough skilled workers like our water
treatment operators, budget analysts, engineers, flood control operators and
surveyors if nothing is done to stop their flight.
Lots of them can retire, if not now, then soon. Why should they not
retire and take their years of experience to some other company or
municipality where the pay is better, the work load is less and they are not
blamed for every woe that occurs. After all as things stand now, the city
has clearly shown they do not value their civilian employees.
Pension
Fund Elections
Mr.
Stalnacker has recommended Bobby Praytor to me for the vacant pension fund
seat. He is very familiar with Mr. Praytor and Ms. Lee. Sadly,
he did not know John Jenkins from the park department.
During
the first forum, Mr. Jenkins had several interesting ideas, but I
(and several other people) were puzzled at his determination to try to
delay any kind of pension settlement so the employees can attempt to negotiate
an increase for the pension plan.
It
was pointed out to him (by Praytor and Lee) that accepting the plan
that Randy and the others signed off on and getting the money in our hands,
did not mean that we could not go back to the table later and try to improve
the deal.
Which
is true enough, after all, the city does it all the time. – M. R.
Frey
Salary
Continuation
Restored….
Kinda…
Council today voted to restore the wage supplementation program. They voted to change the 13 weeks back to 52 weeks.
But here's the kicker. If you are injured on the job, for the first 13
weeks you must be seen by one of 47 doctors on the city approved list, if
your injury is longer than 13 weeks there is a second list of 6 doctors you
must see to maintain your supplemental wage.
Ford
Farris has been contacted and he said that he will fax us a copy of the
approved doctors list by Friday. Apparently all the doctors must be on the
Nation Choice Care Network as approved by the TWC.
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Council
Tid Bits
06-09-2004
- Per
Mayor Miller the budget priority is to hire additional police and double the
Economic Development budget and NO TAX Increase
They
have said it appears we will enter the budget period 14 million down due to
low sales tax and the property taxes are disappointing. (Ed. Note: This is a
bit puzzling since the property tax rates were reported as going to be
higher this year…. How much higher did they have to be, to not be
disappointing?)
More Budget info?
Expenditure
assumptions used in developing preliminary expenditure estimate of
$840.6 million, included
–
Full year funding for 2nd year and 3rd year of police and fire uniform pay
increases
–
Eliminate one-time funding that was allocated in FY 2003-04 for civilians’
lump sum payment and over-65
retirees’
supplement to health benefit premiums
–
Civilian merit pool to be funded for merit pay
from
0% to 4% effective at mid-year (average 2%)
Issues still under consideration
–
Increasing cost of employee/retiree health benefits (14% per Hay Group)
Congratulations
to J
Stennis!!
Of
all the people who signed up new members, yours was the name pulled from the
hat! You can pick up your gift certificate at the next meeting if you like.
Congrats!
Amusing
http://www.employeeblues.com
Shirts,
mugs, clocks, mouse pads… gear for the ‘gruntled employee.
J
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June
Meeting Notes
The
business part of our meeting went very quickly this month, so that we could
be finished in time to hear an important presentation by Sam West our Rapid
Response Coordinator.
We
discussed the Code Enforcement overkill that has hit the media and voted to
temporarily bring on another grievance councilor who is familiar with the
code enforcement process until we can sort out all the claims, charges and
disciplinary actions that will be taking place over the next month or two.
We
also outlined some of the procedures that we will be employing to counter
some of the misrepresentations coming from city hall that affect all of our
members. See the new information site –
http://www.dallascityworkers.com
WHAT’S
YOUR OPINION?
