CS 02 (5)Jennifer L. Hall
From: Naomi Gruenthal
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2021 10:07 AM
To: Public Comment
Subject: Closed session AFSCME
Dear City Clerk,
Please distribute to the City Council and confirm that you received this email.
Dear Mayor and City Council,
I have previously attended and supported AFSME every time our MOU has been presented to you over the past
few years. One of the major items AFSCME is requesting in our MOU proposal is a raise. Why? Because the
City offered us a 10% package back in March of 2020 but because the MOU was caught up in the COVID-19
pandemic it was not finalized. We have not had a fully funded range adjustment since June of 2009, over 12
years ago. With inflation (currently over 5%) during the last 12 years we are making less in real dollars today
than before the Great Recession. During the City budget update last December City Full -Time Staffing was
down from 1,946 employees, to 1,724, a loss of 222 full-time employees (11.4%). Over 20 City employees in
our group have left in the last 6 months for better paying jobs in other cities. The City has given MOUs to other
management groups and we only ask to be treated fairly. 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 to City residents.
The Federal Govt. adopted a Stimulus Package with billions in local aid. The City of Anaheim has/will receive
over $100 million to make up for its tax revenue losses. Further, our City began to return to normal in mid-June
and the City's tax revenues have been rebounding ever since.
City workers have been on the front lines throughout this COVID crisis working tirelessly to protect and serve
the City's residents with essential city services. The City should support its workers that provide those
services. City workers are essential, both to our safety and to our recovery. City workers are the engine of our
City, and the final recovery from the COVID-19 starts with them.
The City should reward its workers for stepping up during the COVID crisis. Providing raises for City workers
is not optional — it is a necessity if the City wants vibrant City services.
Further, since our salaries are stagnant, we are not able to afford to live in Anaheim. Housing prices are out of
our reach. A couple of developers in town have "reduced" their prices for City Workers. It is very sad that these
developers think we can afford a Townhouse for $784,000. We cannot. We cannot qualify for a loan of that
much. Most of the managers and clerical group cannot hope to live in the city we serve.
The time is now to come to a final MOU for AFSCME!
Naomi Gruenthal, Board Member and Negotiation Team Member, AFSCME/MAC
Thank you,
Naon&. cirvevuthuiL
Associate Project Planner
Community Services Department
City of Anaheim
zoo S. Anaheim Boulevard
Suite 433
Anaheim, CA 92805
T. 714.765.4465
F. 714.765.4454
E. ngruenthalwpanaheim.net
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