MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The city of Memphis had until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to work out contracts with its union workers, but couldn’t reach a deal.
Union leaders blamed Mayor A C Wharton’s team for refusing to negotiate while the city said there’s no money to meet the unions’ demands.
Union leaders said if there’s no deal, more employees will leave putting the public’s safety at risk.
“[Mayor Wharton] is pushing the employees right off into the Mississippi River,” said Memphis Firefighter Association President Thomas Malone.
Malone and other union leaders are furious saying they sent a list of demanda to the administration that included pay raises and changing schedule policies.
The city came back saying no to everything.
“They never said what was wrong. You’re asking for too much. Skinny it down. THey said no on everything,” said Malone.
Mayor Wharton refused to talk with WREG, but Human Resources Director Quintin Robinson issued this statement for the city:
“Collectively, the associations are asking for items that would add approximately $41 million dollars to the city budget. That is $41 million we just don’t have and we certainly won’t have it by 11:59 pm tonight. I don’t expect the Associations to withdraw their economic proposals. So, impasse is imminent. We simply don’t have the money and we have been transparent about that fact since this process started in February.”
Right now, the city is in a budget crisis facing a multi-million dollar pension debt and insurance prices are on the rise.
Councilman Harold Collins isn’t buying it though.
“We find money for other things, so I think it’s a matter of will,” said Collins.
Pay raises seemed to be the hot tpoic. Employees say they haven’t seen one since 2008.
Union leaders said it will help morale after the city made pension changes and healthcare got pricier.
The city said a three percent pay increase would cost $11 million.
“We are going to see a lot more people leaving. Then we are going to see a reduction in services I’m afraid,” said Malone.
With no agreement Wednesday, it will now be up to the city council to figure out union contracts.
“I agree with the unions. There is absolutely no way we can talk about this issue without effectively negotiating at the table together,” said Halbert.
Union leaders said all proposals had to be submitted in writing, and in past years, they sat down with the administration and worked things out.
The city wants this contract to last one year. Union leaders say typically they last three.
Both the city and unions have until April 9 to list the problems they have with the other’s proposal.
Then three council members, picked randomly, will be assigned to the union committees and choose the proposal they like the best.
The process doesn’t stop there. The entire council will have to sign off on it too.
