If ever there was a question about if public employees had enough protections under the law, without being in a union . . . here’s an answer for you . . .
From: Wendorf, Lorri
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 12:46 PM
To: Mayor; ALL ALDERS
Cc: Piraino, Janet; Wirtz, Brad; Brasser, Dean; May, Michael
Subject: Information for tonight’s Special Council MeetingDear Mayor & All Alders,
As the President of the Madison Professional & Supervisory Employee Association (MPSEA), I have been actively involved in what has been transpiring with the Governor’s budget repair bill, his proposed budget, and the implications for over 400 City employees who are not protected by a union or other formal agreement with the City.
Let me first say that MPSEA is very appreciative of the steps you have taken and may continue to take at your meeting tonight to best protect union employees and the City’s shared interests. We are in this together and we do not want to see any City employee harmed by what is taking place in our State Capitol.
I know many of you have been hearing from non-represented employees a sense of frustration with the perception that non-represented employees are not being treated in a similar manner to the represented employees within the City.
I believe the resolution before tonight providing for a 3% wage increase the last pay period of 2013 and language that provides comfort regarding the City’s disire to work with us to avoid layoffs is a step in the direction of providing parity between non-represented and represented employees.
However, there are still significant differences in how non-represented employees and represented employees will be impacted by the Governor’s budget repair bill. In an effort to keep my non-represented employees informed and up-to-date on all the changes, I’ve created the attached chart. This chart provides for a comparison of specific wage & benefit similarities and differences for non-represented employees and Local 60. I used Local 60 because it represents the largest number of City represented employees and most of the other represented groups are in a similar, if not exact, position.
MPSEA has proposed that the City provide a temporary wage increase to non-represented employees of 5.8% to offset the required 5.8% contribution to the WRS because non-represented employees are immediately impacted by this requirement while others are not. See attached chart notes on availability of funds.
The Mayor’s office has indicated to me that they will continue to work with MPSEA on issues of equallity. We look forward to problem-solving with the Mayor’s office to find creative solutions to this disporportionate impact on non-represented employees.
Unfortunately, I am unable to attend tonight’s Special Common Council meeting. However, other members of the MPSEA Board of Directors will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Lorri Wendorf
MPSEA President
The info in the chart is as follows:
2011 Wage Increase
COMP 18 & 44 EMPLOYEES
3.0% increase last pay period of 2011
Status: Approved 2-17-11
LOCAL 60 EMPLOYEES
2.0% increase last pay period of 2011
Status: Pending Council approval 3/22/11
3% increase already approved by Council 2-17-11
2012 Wage Increase
COMP 18 & 44 EMPLOYEES
2.0% increase last pay period of 2012
Status: Approved 2-17-11
LOCAL 60 EMPLOYEES
2.0% increase last pay period of 2012
Status: Approved 2-17-11
2013 Wage Increase
COMP 18 & 44 EMPLOYEES
3.0% increase last pay period of 2013
Status: Pending Council approval 3/22/11
LOCAL 60 EMPLOYEES
3.0% increase last pay period of 2013
Status: Pending Council approval 3/22/11
Layoffs
COMP 18 & 44 EMPLOYEES
City will work with MPSEA to avoid layoffs (see detailed language in resolution
Status: Pending Council approval 3/22/11
LOCAL 60 EMPLOYEES
City will work with Union leadership to avoid layoffs (see detailed language in resolution
Status: Pending Council approval 3/22/11
Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Employee Contribution
COMP 18 & 44 EMPLOYEES
Employees will pay to the WRS an amount equal to one half of the total contribution rate.
Status: 5.8% will be deducted from employee payroll checks received 4-22-11
See note below on funds availability.
Only employees to pay 5.8% in 2011.
LOCAL 60 EMPLOYEES
Effective January, 2013, employees will pay to the WRS an amount equal to one half of the total contribution rate.
Status: Approved 2-17-11 (expiration of current contract).
——————————————————-
New implementation date of January, 2012.
Status: Pending Council approval 3-22-11
Health Care Co-Pays
COMP 18 & 44 EMPLOYEES
City required Health Care monthly co-pay of $20/family, $10/single.
Status: Will be eliminated contingent on passage of Governor’s budget repair bill (unsure of effective date)
Approved by Council 2-17-11
LOCAL 60 EMPLOYEES
Have never paid health care co-pay.
Health Care Premiums
COMP 18 & 44 EMPLOYEES
Employees will pay 12% of the premium of any Qualified Tier 1 health insurance plan
Status: Effective January 2012
Only employees to pay 12% in 2012.
Others do not pay full 12% until 2014.
LOCAL 60 EMPLOYEES
Employees will pay 12% of the premium of any Qualified Tier 1 health insurance plan
Status: Approved 2-17-11 (expiration of current contract).
——————————————————–
Effective January, 2013 employees will pay 6% of the premium of any Qualified Tier 1 health insurance plan. Effective January 2014, the employee will pay 12%.
Status: Pending Council approval 3-22-11
Post Employment Health Plan (PEHP)
COMP 18 & 44 EMPLOYEES
City payment to PEHP. Have never received. Discussed in “meet & confer” meetings with HR for this to start in 2011 pending Council approval.
Status: Nothing in writing or pending Council approval
LOCAL 60 EMPLOYEES
Have been receiving for some time.
NOTES:
1. This information prepared by MPSEA. Information is specific to Comp Groups 18 & 44. However, most other non-represented employees receive what is agreed upon for Comp 18 & 44 employees. Comp 21 employees are protected by contracts.
2. 2011 Funds for the current 5.8% employee contribution (currently paid for by the City) are already budgeted for in the 2011 City budget by department. MPSEA believes no new allocation of funds would be needed for the City to cover this cost for non-represented employees to offset the Governor’s budget repair bill implementation.
Cieslewicz is only pro-labor when the cameras are rolling. He has demonstrated this for years. It’s really a shame AFSCME endorsed him.