On January 15th, as a result of the State of the City address, a meeting was held at City Hall with union leaders whose membership will be affected by the upcoming FY 2010 financial crisis.  Presentations were made by Mayor Menino, CFO Lisa Signori, and Labor Director John Dunlap.

The contents of the presentation indicated a projected shortfall, not of the continually reported $60-85 million dollars but now a deficit reaching  $140-150 million.  The graphics showed a bleak forecast and the verbal talk was even worse.  The bottom line was a pitch to get the unions to agree to a 2.5% wage freeze from 7/3/09 to 6/30/10. A simple request if it was backed with a guarantee or an assurance from the administration.  None was provided.

This is what was said:

1. move the 2.5% wage increase from 7/3/09 to 6/30/10
2. there will be no retroactive payment
3. pensions will be affected if fy10 is one of your last three years
4. the freeze will not eliminate layoffs
5. outside of possibly minimizing the layoff number, the city has no idea what it means for unions who do agree to the freeze
6. consultants and contractors will be eliminated prior to laying off union members
7. a weekly status report will be made by the city to the unions
8. 2011 could be as worse as 2010
9. a request for assistance to push mayoral initiatives at the state and federal levels
10.the projected $55 million wage freeze savings equate to approx. 900 city jobs
11.no consideration for an early retirement incentive
12.no consideration to hold off on the health care increase

During the course of the meeting I raised several questions, among them the misinformation coming out in the in the media and reverberating among other elected officials.  In calls that I personally received the question was posed, “Why would SENA be against a 2.5% wage freeze if it eliminated layoffs?  A simple question.  Here is the answer. We never received this promise, this guarantee or this assurance.  The unions have pledged to work with the administration to do whatever is necessary to protect their membership, and SENA will be no different. 

On February 17 the Executive Board will be meeting with the City to re-open collective bargaining negotiations and to discuss what the specific ramifications are for our union.  What does it mean if we do, or don’t agree to the freeze?  We will provide alternatives and other options to the city.  I gave the Mayor my word that SENA will work with him to address the freeze, and will assist in reaching out for other revenues available at the State and Federal levels.  To this I will go to Washington for a couple of days to meet with steelworker leadership and with our elected officials to see what can be done at the Federal level to assist Boston in this crisis.  In addition, with the backing of almost eight hundred SENA members we can also play a role at the state level.  But I wish to be clear, by no means can I allow, nor we as a union permit our collective bargaining agreement to become a book of broken promises.  

As President of this union there is nothing more important than our jobs.  Money is one thing, health care another.  The more layoffs, the more it contributes to placing a strain on our families, and a burden on the city, the state and our Country.

I will not act unilaterally on this issue.  Once the Executive Board acquires information we requested and after the February 17th meeting we will convene an emergency session of our officers and stewards to discuss the issue in depth.  Following this, I will ask the general membership to attend a meeting dedicated to this issue. Understand that at this point we have no answers.  Until then, there is no need to panic or to further the agenda of those spreading false rumors.  I ask you to have faith and trust in the leadership, and to reach out to your steward if you have any question or concern.  This is not easy for any of us including the Mayor and his staff.  I fully expect tensions to rise, but it will do none of us any good if communication breaks down between SENA and the City. 

I give you my word and that of our Executive Board that we will do everything in our power to limit the casualties and to make the best decisions we can for the betterment of our union.  

Sincerely,

John Zuccaro Jr., President