Agenda Text
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SMEA President submitting comments re: the FY22 budget and DPW reorganization.
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Official Text
To the Honorable City Council:
Just recently, the Leadership of the Somerville Municipal Employees Association discovered that the City Administration intends to move our tree crew currently located in the highway dept. to the grounds division. The city has yet to contact the union about this unilateral transfer without bargaining. The Union learned about this through the City FY22 budget hearing that will take place tonight. In an email to the personnel director Anne Gill, the union notes that the City has an obligation to bargain over this transfer and that this is a mandatory subject of bargaining under G. L. Chapter 150E. We ask that any move to relocate the Highway dept. tree crew positions to the Grounds division be placed on hold until such time that the union and city satisfy its lawful duty to negotiate these changes in good faith.
Below is an e-mail Sent to personnel director Anne Gill.
The SMEA and its 300 members have appreciated the efforts' of the city council and their strong support of fair labor and unions.
Thank you,
Edward Halloran
SMEA President
Ed Hardy
Vice President
"In Unity there is Strength"
Hello Anne
The SMEA has learned that the City is attempting to move the positions of the tree crew from Highway Division to the Grounds Division. As that move involves mandatory subjects for collective bargaining important to the Association and its members, the Association requests collective bargaining. In the meantime, and pursuant to G. L. Chapter150E, the requested bargaining must occur prior to any such relocation. Accordingly, I also request that the City take no further steps to implement the relocation pending satisfaction of its duty to bargain.
Thank you,
Edward Halloran
SMEA President
Ed Hardy
Vice President
"In Unity there is Strength"