SEIU AZ-5

New Town Manager Grapples with Gilbert Budget

2010-03-09T17:14:36Z

Former Gilbert Fire Chief Collin DeWitt has begun a new - if temporary - career as Gilbert's Town Manager at a time when the town is looking for ways to fill a $15 million budget hole.

Gilbert voters will decide in May whether to increase the local sales tax rate by a quarter of a cent. If they do approve the increase, that should bring in enough revenue to cut the deficit in half.

However, if other cost-savings or revenue-generators cannot be found, "that means we'll have a number of layoffs in the end, though we're going to do everything we can to minimize that," DeWitt said in this story in the East Valley Tribune.

Gov Calls Special Session to Discuss Cuts, Layoffs

2010-03-09T00:28:31Z

Gov. Jan Brewer has called a Special Session of the legislature to again attempt to balance the 2009-10 and 2010-11 state budgets. The session, which began March 8, will address "employee compensation and workforce reduction," according to her March 5 proclamation.

The governor's budget plan is expected to call for further pay cuts to state employees' salaries, an additional furlough day, elimination of the 2.75 percent in performance pay, as well as further layoffs in addition to the 4,000-plus state workers who have already been let go.

Arizona's state workforce are already among the lowest-paid in the nation and many have already seen their paychecks reduced through mandatory furlough days. Proposed salary cuts this year and next will not only have an immediate effect on income, but will also affect retirement pensions in the future.

Employees of the state of Arizona should contact their state senator and representatives and let them know that Enough is Enough.

This latest budget plan by the governor and Republican legislative leaders was developed without any input from the public or any Democratic legislators, according to this story in the Arizona Republic.

Legislators Stand Up for State Workers

2010-03-05T17:55:48Z

"Do not allow these people to demoralize you and make you think you're not important. Because you are!"

So said State Sen. Linda Lopez at a rally in support of state employees March 4 at the Capitol. Sen. Ken Cheuvront and Sen. Rebecca Rios also encouraged state employees to speak out and let Gov. Jan Brewer and legislative leaders know exactly how they feel about a proposed 5 percent pay cut.

"If you made your voices heard ... imagine the difference you could make (in the legislature)," said Sen. Lopez. "Enough is enough!" said Sen. Rios to the crowd. "You and your families cannot sustain a pay cut and you need to be treated with dignity and respect!"

A bill authored by Sen. Cheuvront would require state legislators to share the pain. "If we ask for you to take a 5 percent pay cut, then we need to take a 5 percent pay cut," he said. However, he said his bill is being held by the Senate leadership. He urged state employees to contact Senate President Bob Burns and demand that the "shared sacrifice" bill be let out for a vote.

Contact Sen. Burns at (602) 926-5993 or at rburns@azleg.com and let him know what you think.

Watch a video of the rally.

Legislators Aim to Ration AHCCCS

2010-03-04T22:33:16Z

Ten years ago, Arizona voters approved expanding AHCCCS to include anyone below the federal poverty level, the cost of the expansion to be supplemented by Arizona's share of the tobacco settlement fund.

Today, Republican Representative John Kavanagh and other legislative leaders are planning to deny health care to about 25 percent of the people currently enrolled in the program. And Rep. Kavanagh would prefer to do it without any input from voters.

AHCCCS, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, provides health care services to one out of every six Arizonans, according to this story in the East Valley Tribune. Gov. Jan Brewer says the current state budget deficit means Arizona can no longer afford to have more than 1.2 million people on the AHCCCS rolls.

Retirement Incentives Again Offered to Chandler Workers

2010-03-04T22:17:00Z

Thanks to a Retirement Incentive Program developed by SEIU and the city last year, Chandler employees saved more than 60 jobs and maintained services for residents. A similar RIP is being offered again this year with the goal of encouraging enough early retirements to retain jobs for about 40 city employees who might otherwise have to be laid off.

Chandler is looking at a $17.5 million budget deficity for Fiscal Year 2010-11 and aims to save $6.2 million by eliminating 39 positions that are not currently vacant. Those employees who are not eleigible for early retirement could opt for a voluntary severance package.

Chandler Officials Worried About 'Home Rule' Vote

2010-02-25T17:50:20Z

Chandler voters will have the chance to continue the "home rule" option when they go to the polls May 18 but city officials are worried that a one-cent sales tax increase on the same ballot will lead many to vote against both proposals.

The "home rule" option allows the city to exceed state-mandated spending limits and it has been approved seven times since 1980. If it's not approved, the city will have to cut $49 million from an already-lean budget, according to the story in the Arizona Republic.

Brewer Proposes Drastic Health Care Cuts

2010-02-25T17:44:43Z

Gov. Jan Brewer has proposed a series of health care cuts that would result in the loss of as many as 42,000 jobs and nearly $3 billion in federal matching funds, according to an Arizona State University study commissioned by the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.

Among other things, her proposal would ask voters to reduce the number of people eligible for AHCCCS and would eliminate KidsCare which currently provides health care coverage to 63,000 children of working parents, according to the Arizona Republic. Read more ...

SEIU Urges Alternatives to Chandler Layoffs

2010-02-09T20:05:27Z

Chandler Chapter President James Kame says the city could avoid the need for 39 layoffs by offering retirement incentives to approximately 100 Chandler city employees. SEIU and the City developed a retirement incentive plan last year that was accepted by 62 employees and saved numerous jobs.

The City of Chandler is looking at a $17.5 million budget deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010 and budget recommendations include a call for the elimination of 58 city jobs, 19 of which are already vacant, according to a story in the Arizona Republic.

City councillors Matt Orlando and Jeff Weninger asked city administrators to look at retirement incentives, furloughs, job-sharing and other alternative to layoffs. However, Mayor Boyd Dunn and Councilman Jack Sellers believe the recommended job cuts will preserve important city services.

ADOA Cancels Pay Cut Hearing

2010-02-09T19:01:11Z

At 5:04 pm Feb. 8, members of the SEIU State Employees delegation who were planning to attend the hearing on the proposed 5% pay cut were advised that the hearing scheduled for Feb. 9 has been cancelled.

"When the oral proceeding is rescheduled, a Notice of Oral Proceeding on Proposed Rulemaking will be published at least 30 days in advance in the Arizona Administrative Register," said the email from Christine Bronson, Employee Relations Manager with the Arizona Department of Administration.

However, your comments will still be delivered to the Employee Relations Department at ADOA. To date, we have received more than 125 comments that clearly articulate the damage a 5% pay cut will do to state employees at work and at home.

If you haven't had your say yet, Click here to voice your concerns.

The SEIU State Employee delegation will stay in touch with ADOA and if/when another hearing on the pay cut is scheduled, we'll let you know. And we will continue to advocate for furloughs as an alternative to pay cuts if state employees are called on again to sacrifice even more to balance the state budget.

5% Pay Cut? Have Your Say

2010-02-05T21:56:31Z

On Tuesday, February 9, the Arizona Department of Administration is set to discuss a 5% pay cut for state workers. It's a public hearing so let's tell the State what we think.

Unfortunately, the hearing is scheduled for 2 pm. So while rules are made about cutting state employees' pay, you're probably going to be hard at work for Arizona citizens. However, a delegation of SEIU Arizona members will be there to speak out and stand up for state workers.

We've already sacrificed a lot. Can we afford more? Where do you think additional cuts should come from? Send us your thoughts, comments or questions and we will deliver a message to the State.

Click here to voice your concerns about a 5% pay cut for state workers. Nearly 100 state employees have already taken the time to send in their comments. Keep 'em coming and let's make sure the state knows how we feel.

Want to know more about Tuesday's hearing? Download a copy of the proposed rules.

House OKs Sales Tax Vote

2010-02-04T23:19:14Z

Arizona voters will have a chance to vote on a penny-per-dollar sales tax increase after the House of Representatives voted 34-25 today to place the issue on the May 18 ballot.

The governor had asked legislators to pass a bill authorizing the increase but both the Senate and the House voted to put the question to voters. If voters vote for the increase, the state sales tax will increase to 6.6 cents on the dollar on June 1.

The sales tax would be temporary, lasting three years, and would bring in an estimated $900 million in annual revenue. Read more in the Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune.

Senate Votes to Ask for Sales Tax Increase

2010-02-02T22:18:53Z

In a 16-12 vote today, the state Senate voted to put the issue of a 1-cent sales tax increase on the May 18 ballot.

If passed by the House, Arizonans would be asked if we want to increase the sales tax to 6.6 percent. The increase would be temporary, lasting for 3 years only, and would raise an estimated $900 million per year.

Even if the House votes to put it on the ballot and voters pass the sales tax initiative, revenues from the increase will not have any affect on this year's budget deficit. Read more in the East Valley Tribune.

Chandler Advises SEIU of Possible Layoffs

2010-02-01T19:57:46Z

The City of Chandler has advised SEIU that a total of 58 city jobs must be cut in order to get a projected deficit of $17.5 million under control. Our agreement with the city calls for 60 days' notice of any potential layoffs of SEIU-represented employees.

Nineteen of those jobs are vacant, leaving 39 active employees to be laid off, according to this story in the Arizona Republic. Five Rangers and two Fire Department positions would be eliminated and library hours would be shortened, amongst other service cuts.

"It's a very stressful time" for Chandler employees, said Mary Lou Zavala, a member of the SEIU Chandler Chapter Bargaining Team, in a story in the Arizona Republic.

Additional coverage in the East Valley Tribune.

AZ House OKs New Way to Reduce Revenue

2010-01-29T18:22:14Z

Faced with a growing budget deficit that is currently estimated at $5 billion, the Arizona House approved a bill Thursday to further cut corporate and personal income taxes and provide rebates, payments and tax breaks to businesses that move to, or expand in, Arizona.

House Speaker Kirk Adams sponsored House Bill 2250 and believes the legislation, which also promotes additional job training programs, will help expand and stabilize Arizona's tax base, according to a story in The Arizona Republic.

SEIU Arizona director Scott Washburn said that while he shares the bill's goal of bringing more jobs to the state, "cutting general fund revenues at a time when basic services are already being slashed will make Arizona a less desirable place for business relocation and expansion."

SEIU Arizona is a member of the Arizona Budget Coalition, a group of more than 40 organizations working to preserve jobs, education, health and public services. The ABC will encourage state senators to kill the bill.

"Both voters and businesses expect our state to provide the assets we need for a strong economy - assets like roads, parks, health care and a world-class education system," said Dana Wolfe Naimark, President and CEO of Children's Action Alliance, in an ABC press release.

"Twenty years of tax cuts have left us short on these assets and contributed to the deficit we suffer from now," Naimark added. "More of the same tax cuts will only make Arizona less competitive."

Read the conplete ABC press release in the Tucson Weekly.

No KidsCare Means More ER Care

2010-01-29T17:34:24Z

Gov. Jan Brewer's proposal to eliminate health insurance coverage for nearly 50,000 children of Arizona's low-income working families will force parents to go to already-crowded community clinics and emergency rooms, according to a spokesperson for the Arizona Association of Community Health Centers.

Tara Plese, director of government and media relations for the association, is also concerned about the public health impact on all of us when thousands of kids are without health care, particularly six-to-nineyear-olds.

"That's an age where they're getting another set of immunizations, they're more prone to being sick because they're in school, they're getting sick, other children are getting sick, and it's a time when they probably visit doctors with more frequency."

Read the Public News Service story.

Gilbert Town Manager to Step Down March 1

2010-01-28T21:17:29Z

Gilbert Town Manager George Pettit has announced his retirement.

A town employee for 25 years, and Town Manager since 2002, Pettit was the chief administrative official when Town Council approved a Meet Confer ordinance in November, 2007. The approval of the ordinance led to the creation of SEIU Arizona's Gilbert Chapter after town employees voted (twice!) to join our union in March and May of 2008.

"The thing I will miss the most ... will be working with the most dedicated public employees in the country," Pettit said in The Arizona Republic. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Fire Chief Colin DeWitt until a replacement can be found.

Meet & Confer discussions for our second Memorandum of Understanding will begin soon.

More details on the end of George Pettit's tenure as Gilbert Town Manager.

Budget Forums for Tempe Employees in Feb.

2010-01-27T18:25:48Z

SEIU Tempe Chapter members have provided city management with dozens of cost-cuting and revenue-enhancement ideas over the past year and we continue to meet monthly with City Manager Charlie Meyer to discuss budget and personnel issues.

The city has also decided to seek comments from Tempe residents and employees in a series of budget forums to be held in February.

Employee forums are scheduled as follows:

Feb. 10, 9-11 am in the Vihel Center multipurpose room
Feb. 11, 2-4 pm in Council Chambers
Feb. 16, 7-9 am at Field Services Assembly Hall, Priest Yard
Feb. 22, 3-5 pm at the Escalante Center, in the Senior Center

The city is also accepting comments online.

Sales-Tax Hike on Gilbert Ballot

2010-01-26T22:11:27Z

In a close vote, Gilbert Town Council approved a motion to ask residents if they'll be willing to pay a quarter-cent extra to pay for public safety services.

The decision to put the increase on the May ballot came at council's budget retreat held last Saturday and was approved on a 4-3 vote at the Town Council meeting Jan. 26.

The Town is looking for ways to close a 2010-11 budget deficit estimated at $15 million. About $3.4 million in cuts have already been accepted by council and the quarter-cent increase in the sales tax is expected to bring in approximately $7.3 million annually.

With SEIU Gilbert Chapter members working on further cost-saving and revenue generating ideas - and a reserve fund of $19 million - Gilbert would appear to be in a decent position to ride out the economic downturn without compromising quality public services.

Town Calls for Employee Ideas

2010-01-21T20:58:27Z

They've heard from residents and other interested parties and now the Gilbert Town Council wants to hear from the men and women who provide the services Gilbert residents and businesses depend upon.

SEIU Gilbert Chapter members met at our East Valley office Jan. 20 to go through a process similar to what Tempe and Chandler members went through last year - identify and list any cost-saving and revenue-generating ideas they can think of.

"This is a good thing to do, even if we weren't looking at a $14 million dollar budget deficit," said Chapter President Melissa Kingsley. "Almost everyone who works for the town probably has an idea or two about how we could save some money and keep the same level of service."

Town department heads have been asked to trim their budgets by 5 percent, which could reduce the deficit by about $6 million if the cuts are adopted, according to the East Valley Tribune.

Council members will be meeting to discuss financial issues at a budget retreat scheduled for Jan. 23. SEIU members will be in attendance at the Jan. 26 council meeting as we have been during most of the 2010-11 budget discussions.

2010 Chandler Bargaining Team Elected

2010-01-21T19:38:52Z

Chandler Chapter members chose amongst a record 23 candidates who stood for election to the 2010 Bargaining Team during two days of voting in mid-January.

They elected a strong team of eight members and three alternates who will sit at the table with city management to negotiate our new Memorandum of Understanding. Dates for the first Meet & Confer sessions have not been set yet.

Like most cities and towns in Arizona, Chandler has been facing a severe drop in revenues that is impacting its ability to balance the city budget and maintain the current level of services to residents.

Fortunately, the rate of sales-tax-revenue decline has slowed, according to a story in the Arizona Republic and city officials are hopeful the worst may be over. As we did last year, Chandler Chapter bargainers will work with the city to maintain jobs and services.

Here are the members of the 2010 Chandler Chapter Bargaining Team. You can also download a PDF that lists team members and their contact information.

Dominic Camillo - MUD / Larry Duffy - MUD / Nan Kahl - City Clerk's Office / Terry Linck - MUD / Carlos Martinez - Parks / Shawn Prisciandaro - Streets / Catherine Roeper - Police Dept. / Mary Lou Zavala - Library. Alternates are Mark Hardenburg - MUD and Robert Hoffmann - Streets.

Congratulations to the members of the Bargaining Team and to all the candidates who offered to serve on it.