Closed Session (3)Public Comment
From: Moses Johnson
Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 7:36 AM
To: Public Comment; Theresa Bass; Jim Vanderpool; Linda Andal; Gretchen R. Beatty
Subject: Item 2 Closed Session Agenda June 8th
Dear City Clerk,
Please distribute to the City Council and confirm that you received this email.
Dear Mayor and City Council,
One of the major items AFSCME is requesting in our MOU proposal is a raise. Why? Because
the City offered us a 10% package over one year ago but because the City dragged its feet in
negotiations our MOU was caught up in the COVID-19 pandemic and not finalized. Because
we did not get the 10% package that was offered we have in effect taken a 10% pay cut. We
have not had a fully funded range adjustment since June of 2009, 12 years ago. With inflation
we are making less in real dollars than before the Great Recession. During the City budget
update last December City Full -Time Staffing is down from 1,946 employees, to 1,724, a loss
of 222 full-time employees (11.4%). The City asked us again to do more with less during
COVID-19 and City employees stepped up to fill the gap and provide local services.
Further, the Federal Govt. adopted a Stimulus Package with billions in local aid. The City of
Anaheim will receive over $100 million to make up for its tax revenue losses. With millions of
vaccines given out in OC and Disney reopening on April 30' it is likely that our City will begin
to return to normal by June 15th
I have previously written to you that due to the unprecedented, multifaceted COVID-19
response, including the shutdown of our local economy, the City was facing a revenue
shortfall but now the Federal Govt. has stepped in to help.
City workers have been on the front lines throughout this crisis working tirelessly to protect
and serve our City's residents with essential services. The stakes are high. The City
should support critical local services and the City workers that provide them.
Council policymakers face a formidable task building the City's budget for the coming
year. While I know there will be tough decisions about how to allocate funds to best
position the City's recovery, one thing is clear: City workers are essential, both to our
safety and to our recovery.
City workers are the engine of our City, and the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis starts
with them.
The road to recovery will be long and hard but it will be even longer if you fail to reward
City workers for stepping up during this crisis instead of harnessing their vital economic
and social strengths. Providing funding and raises for City workers is not optional — it is a
necessity if we want a vibrant City services and strong economy.
The time is now to come to a final MOU for AFSCME.
Moses Johnson, Acting President AFSCME/MAC
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