Union Negotiations Unsuccessful, AFSCME Taking Legal Action

8.17.2024 / News / munciepostdemocrat.com

After a negotiation’s meeting between the Dan Ridenour administration and the AFCSME union held on Monday morning, there are still no agreements made for a renewed contract. AFCSME president Nate Burgess has come out publicly to talk about the wrongdoing on part of the administration and wants to take legal action.

Negotiations have been ongoing since May of 2023 yet without an official renewed contract. Despite an Evergreen clause that allows the previous contract to be renewed as is, the Ridenour administration has argued that the previous contract has expired.

The negotiations have become a highly public issue for the last three City Council meetings, when the Ridenour attempted to skip bargaining agreements prior to the June meeting. This happened through a 10% raise that was enacted without an ordinance and instead went through a loose interpretation of state code instead of going through council. The raise for city employees would allow the administration to provide their offer for a pay increase without renewing their contract. 

According to Burgess, the last meeting on August 12th was held without an option for a date/time for the union to agree on and with very little knowledge provided.

“Ridenour does not bargain in good faith” from Facebook.

Instances of Retaliation

At least two individuals, Jeff Mooneyham and Richard Lewis, were fired then reinstated thanks to their AFSCME union. Grievance forms of each individual can be found below:

Resolution 7-24

Previously reported on by the Post-Democrat, Resolution 7-24 passed 9-0 to reaffirm support by the City Council for renegotiations to continue. Audie Barber, a former Council At-Large candidate and government watchdog, says the resolution passed is ineffective and that more should be done by the Council. At the August 5th meeting he advocated for its members to stop all spending and ordinances from the Mayor’s office until a contract is settled, essentially as a statement that if the administration wants to hold AFSCME and others hostage they should hold him hostage. Barber told the Post-Democrat “I just hope the Democratic controlled Council backs their union, because the democrats are supposed to be the union people, and do something to make sure that Ridenour gives a contract to these people.” He warns that the Ridenour administration is trying to break the union.

Discussion for Resolution 7-24 on August 5th.

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