For the past 10 years the number of union employees in Evanston has continued to decline, and this year three more union jobs may be cut.
The jobs, which have not yet been filled, were scheduled to be filled in the coming year. Ted Loda, a representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, said Evanston continues to cut union positions even though the workload has not decreased, which has caused the city to run inefficiently.
The move to cut jobs comes as the city faces a nearly $4 million dollar budget deficit.
As part of City Manager Roger Crum’s proposed budget, two equipment operators in the public works department and a general tradesman for the Forestry, Parks and Recreation Department will be eliminated. The equipment operators would make $19.11 an hour, and the general tradesman would make $22.10 an hour.
Raymond Summers is the president of the AFSCM Local 1891A, which represents 162 Evanston employees. He said cutting the positions would have a direct effect on Evanston residents because the equipment operators’ responsibilities include grading alleys.
Loda said dangerous situations and accidents could occur if alleys are not maintained.
“There is always work to be done in those alleys,” he said.
Next year the union’s contract with the city is due for renegotiation. At Monday’s budget workshop, Crum said the city may consider reducing raises for union employees since they may also decrease raises for non-union workers.
Loda said the union does not want to see any employees’ raises decreased.
“We will enter into the negotiations to have fair wages, benefits and safe working conditions,” he said.
Ald. Stephen Engelman (7th) said he thinks the council would only approve the decrease in non-union raises if they had a strong belief they would be seeking similar contracts with union employees next year.
Loda said because of the United States’ slow economy, it is a bad time to cut jobs and decrease raises. He said Evanston AFSCM employees have begun only recently to make salaries comparable to union employees in other communities. Evanston AFSCM employees pay more for their health insurance than union employees in other communities, Loda said.
Money could be saved if the city entered into a partnership with the union employees, Loda said. He said the city has lost money by purchasing unnecessary equipment that employees could have told management not to buy.
Instead of the cuts, the union wants the city to reduce seasonal and part-time positions and raise revenues, Loda said. He said the city could raise $2.2 million in license fees and revenue enhancements. Loda said if the city had an adequate number of employees there would be less need for overtime compensation, which would save the city money.
“They would be far more effective if fully staffed,” Loda said.
