|
These "union workers" are mostly cops and firemen.
In most cities the police account for about 50 percent of the payroll budget,
with the firemen grabbing the next 25 percent of the payroll budget.
And all other city employees grabbing the remaining 25 percent of the budget.
Goldwater investigation: E.V. cities use taxpayer dollars for union work Posted: Friday, September 23, 2011 4:59 pm By Garin Groff, Tribune Three East Valley cities are paying their employees for more than 13,000 hours of union-related activities at taxpayer expense, according to an investigation by the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute. The organization is planning legal action to stop cities from releasing employees for union work, which would wipe out employee protections negotiated over many years. Goldwater researched numerous collective bargaining agreements after learning some Phoenix employees do not perform any government work because they are allowed to focus exclusively on union work. The union issue has flared in Phoenix's mayoral race but it hasn't gained traction elsewhere yet. Goldwater wants to change that, said Clint Bolick, director of the institute's Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation. The organization is seeking a person to challenge the release hours as a violation of Arizona's constitution. He believes it violates the gift clause, which prevents public funds from benefiting private organizations. "I think this may go beyond partisan lines because this is a diversion of scarce resources to non-productive activities," Bolick said. "It's taking cops off the street. It's diverting resources from other possible activities." Goldwater found Tempe provides at least 7,068 hours for union activity. That includes 6,000 hours for the Service Employees International Union to address grievance/disciplinary hearings and work on management-approved task forces. That is the largest pool of union-related activity in the East Valley. Firefighters have 2,912 hours for the union president and a business agent, with a pool of 1,000 hours for other members. Chandler has negotiated 2,175 hours for its SEIU and 1,500 hours for firefighters. Police have 1,040 hours for one designated person and a pool of 500 hours for members. The union has 30 minutes each with officers who've just completed the academy. Mesa has 1,500 hours for firefighters. Mesa Mayor Scott Smith said the release hours are important to make sure the city has a good relationship with employee groups. He also said it's important to know Mesa doesn't have employees who only perform union work. "I would never support funding a full-time union official," Smith said. Management and union members could only meet outside normal business hours without release hours, Smith said. Chandler Law Enforcement Association President Shawn Hancock said negotiations with the city allow the group to seek release hours or higher benefits. The two sides have agreed on the hours because they've found the time has improved relations. "If it wasn't for some of the time that we're given to do those things, relations would suffer," he said. "I think it actually increases the product and improves the product that's delivered to the public." Bolick said he expects to file a lawsuit within three months. He believes the release hours provisions are so obscure that most elected officials don't know about them. Recent and painful government cuts could trigger activists to begin questioning tax dollars for union activity, he said. "I suspect we'll be hearing more about this at the local level," Bolick said. • Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com |