Layoffs Imminent if Agreement not reached
January 22, 2010
Once again, the Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett has stated that layoffs are forthcoming for city employees if an agreement is not reached regarding salary cuts. A letter received by AFSCME Local 1180 from Bartlett stated that the city would be welcome a written counter-proposal to the salary cuts but wills stay with their original deadline of Wednesday for any counter proposal or the city will begin laying off city employees.
The AFSCME union polled its members to learn if the members would prefer a 5.178% pay reduction, or layoffs, the vote is only an opinion poll. The administration estimates that 65 employees will need to be laid off the results are not binding and are merely an estimate. Bill Roland, AFSCME Union President stated, “I think there’s other things that can be done. It’s still strictly up to the mayor and his staff as to what they will do, no matter what the opinion is here today, either the layoff or the pay cut.” The union president thinks the vote will show members are in favor of the layoff, as the majority are on the bottom of the pay scale at this time after taking cuts year after year. Roland went on to say, “It was real hard to take the 4.7% pay reduction when Mr. Lafortune had to implement that, knowing that the police department got a 6% raise.”
The Firefighter’s union is still in negotiation at city for a compromise to lessen the salary cuts and steer clear of layoffs. The Police union also began talks in hopes of a compromise. Terry Simonson, Mayor’s Chief of Staff stated, “We discussed it for a good hour and a half. We’ve now given their proposal to the finance department to work their numbers and the meeting was left that we would get back with them with questions or maybe a counter to their proposal. In any event, the conversation and discussion will go on, on a daily basis if need be.” “We’re willing to work, we’re willing to sit down, we want to be part of this city,” Roland said.
Mayor Bartlett explained that the Tulsa Human Resources staff would meet with department heads to look at the procedures for layoffs. Employees could receive the notifications as early as Friday. A seven days notice is required before the employees can be removed from the payroll.
If you would like more information on this or Tulsa area news, articles and commentary on homes sales, farms and commercial property in the Tulsa Real Estate market please re-visit or subscribe to our RSS Feed on our Tulsa Real Estate Mall Blog.
