City union could reject contract offer, move to strike

The city of Duluth’s largest union is being urged by its negotiating team to reject a contract offer by the city and authorize a strike, a union spokeswoman said this afternoon.

The city and members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 66 have met at the negotiating table only twice since talks began in September, said AFSCME spokeswoman Jennifer Munt.

The city submitted a contract offer in December that was rejected, Munt said. A final offer was made on Feb. 16, and the union negotiating team is recommending its members reject it as well when they vote Tuesday.

Munt referred questions regarding why negotiators recommend rejecting the contract to Jim Dreier, the union’s negotiation chair.

Dreier said the conflict with the city isn’t about wages, but “about fair and equal treatment of our members and their contract.” He declined to elaborate until the results of the vote are announced.

If the union authorizes a strike, Munt said members will “regroup” to decide when a strike date should be set. The union is required to give the city 10 days notice before striking.

Munt said during a strike it’s up to city managers to keep operations going such as snowplowing and sewer line repairs.

AFSCME Local 66 represents 492 city employees.

City Chief Administrative Officer David Montgomery said he hopes the union agrees to the contract, but if it’s rejected, “I presume they’ll want to come back to the bargaining table,” he said.

If a strike does happen, however, he said the city “will do everything it can to continue operations necessary for citizens,” but said the city has not yet determined its strike contingency plans.

He said the offer made to the AFSCME employees is a one-year contract with zero percent salary increases, similar to contracts that the police, confidential and supervisory unions have already agreed to.

He said the city’s offer reflects language that is in the current contract that AFSCME employees agreed upon nearly three years ago.

“The contract proposal we gave is essentially the same one that’s in existence today,” he said.

Montgomery indicated that the union was not asked to take concessions beyond the zero percent salary increase.

“If we had put concessions in the final offer that would not reflect language in the contract today,” he said.

Some city councilors expressed optimism Monday that a deal would be reached and a strike avoided.

“I know there were concerns about contract language, seniority rights and the right to strike,” said 3rd District Councilor Sharla Gardner. “It wasn’t financial. It’s workers’ rights they’re concerned about, so I don’t see anything that can’t be ironed out.”

Another councilor blasted AFSCME and the firefighters union — which also hasn’t settled with the city — for not yet agreeing to a deal.

“It’s time union leaders from the firefighters and AFSCME take a dose of reality,” said Councilor Todd Fedora. “Those two bargaining units need to at least accept the terms that the police department, confidential and supervisory units have already accepted. How in the world are they going to sell [a strike] when people in our city are, one, without a job; two, worried about their jobs; or, three, have had their hours and wages cut?”

Councilor Jim Stauber said he was floored when he heard the union was considering a strike.

“This is not the time to be recommending anybody go on strike,” he said.

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