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City Workers Facing Two More Weeks of Worry

On July 15th, 1,500 Chicago city workers could be laid off, if unions can't agree to concessions with Mayor Daley. So far, 37 of the 40 unions have signed on to a two-year deal, including an 8% pay cut and an unspecified number of furlough days. Three unions say they can't afford to take what amounts to a 10% cut in pay over the next two years. AFSCME says Daley is demanding a combination of 46 furlough days and unpaid holidays. The union says it offered another solution that would not include layoffs, but would save as much money. It was apparently turned down. It wouldn't say what it offered in the alternative plan, saying it does not negotiate in the media. Executive Director Henry Bayer says the mayor doesn't have to lay off people if he doesn't want to because of this plan. Do you think the city should look at all options? Do you feel unions should just give in to save their jobs? How would you solve this problem? One city worker I talked to today pleaded with the other three unions to hop aboard and worry about the other things later. No one is saying what will exactly happen if there's not an agreement with those unions. It could mean the 1,500 layoffs will take place, even though the other 37 unions agreed in principle. The economy just keeps eating up everybody. No one is safe.

Posted by Aaron Baskerville on July 1, 2009 4:43 PM in | Permalink

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Comments (2)

sam:

Why wasn't my comment published yesterday. Ispoke against the Mayor threatening city workers with lay off when he could get rid of overpaid Managers who have assistant Managers, District Commanders with Police Commanders everyone is doing the same job. But the Mayor wants to layoff Female and Minority single family providers. Why won't he look at the union offer to show where the money can be saved. He doesn't want the proposal he wants to laid off the employees so he can soon privatize the city departments. He has been laying off the city workers since 2000 and will continue until they all look like him.

Posted by sam | July 2, 2009 3:52 PM

Posted on July 2, 2009 15:52

samantha elliott:

The Mayor just laid off city workers in December 08.Now he wants to lay them off again. I was in the last layoff and The unions showed the city where they could get the money and the Mayor and Aldermen refused to visit the union suggestions. It like you do what the Mayor says of else. He isn't offering any alternatives to the layoffs. The City has so many top heavy managers, Managers and assistances doing the same job. The other unions that voted in favor of the unpaid furlough days make more money than the union workers who won't give in. The union leader said it right The Mayor just wants to laid off people. The people he is laying off is Minority and Female most who are head of the household.
He should look at what the unions offered at least to see if it would save the city money. Remember did he sign something for the 2016 olympics or not. Can you believe what he says . I think not.

Posted by samantha elliott | July 1, 2009 8:17 PM

Posted on July 1, 2009 20:17

City Workers Facing Two More Weeks of Worry

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