City Manager Charlie Meyer introduced himself and provided the TSA members in attendance his career bio before taking questions. The first question asked was what has been his experience with unions. As county manager in upstate New York, passage of the Taylor Law granted public employee the right to organize and elect union representatives. There he dealt with 11 different bargaining units. In St. Louis Park, Minnesota a positive experience evolved through the development of labor management committees and a move away from positional bargaining to integrative bargaining. In Virginia Beach there was no organized bargaining. Employee groups often took issues public. When asked about his priorities, first he is learning about the organization. He believes in building upon what is good and forming relationships built on trust. It is the simplest things that can sometimes be the most difficult, he said. Success begins with taking care of basics. Early on, Charlie sees a few administrative improvements that can be implemented.
After the Charlie Meyer and Jeff Kulaga departed, President Kerby Rapp began the first TSA representative meeting by asking the new board members to introduce themselves.
Kerby then explained the steps that need to be taken to form the Tempe Supervisors Association. To become a Non Profit Entity, bylaws must be finalized and then submitted along with the required documentation to the state corporation commission. There will be a cost incurred for publishing the bylaws in a newspaper of record prior to acceptance. Legal council will be provided by Attorney Micheal Napier. His law firm represents many of the valley's independent employee unions and groups and has done so since the early 90's. A legal service package of some form will also be provided to dues paying TSA members to add value and increase membership participation.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was submitted to the City Manager on November 15 as per City Charter. Kerby went through it as proposed. Negotiations will likely begin in January or February. Members will be presented with the agreement when it is reached and will have a 14 day review period before voting to ratify. Due to the sensitive nature of items included in the TSA document, it would not be wise to put details into the public domain until after negotiations are completed. Members are however, encouraged to learn more through reps in attendance or board members. Most importantly, input from Tempe Supervisors is vital to the process.
Please contact Kerby Rapp directly (or your rep) to bring forth issues you want to see addressed.
The use of city email to communicate with members was discussed. Even though we have been told that it is okay to do so, ambiguity about what is the proper use of email and what isn't remains. Meeting announcements are allowed. It is hoped that the primary communication tool membership uses is the website www.tempesupervisors.org
TSA Reps Attending:
Anita Perez, Amy Douglass, Cheryl Fox, Roni Alexander, Sylvia Cardenas, Michelle Asaro, Jennifer Dubois, Mercedes Payne, Steve Amelotte, Bob Albin, Robert Bartelme, Jerry Judkins, Kerby Rapp, Linda Saliani, Lucy Morales, Dana Janosfsky, Osvoldo Espinosa, Ramon Saiz, Tom Wilhite, Tom Hartman, Julie Hietter.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Minutes 12-11-2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Meetings
Representative Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 am in the Tempe Police Department Auditorium.
2008 Dates:
- January 8
- February 12
- March 11
- April 8
- May 13
- June 10
- July 8
- August 12
- September 9
- October 14
- November (no meeting - Veterans Day)
- December 9
Board
President: Kerby Rapp
Vice President: Julie Hietter
Secretary: Tom Hartman
Treasurer: Linda Saliani
Trustees
Amy Douglass
Lucy Morales
Mercedes Payne
News
2/8/2008 - The TSA Bylaws (Charter) has been completed and will be presented at the next representative meeting Tuesday February 12, 2008 at 10:30 am in the Police Auditorium.
January Representative Meeting Highlights:
- What is the plan to promote a greater an awareness of the TSA as the designated bargaining organization for all unit members?
- First, the Tempe Supervisors Association must finalize bylaws and charter before proceeding with incorporation as a 503. c. non-profit organization with the State of Arizona.
- Then supervisors will be presented with a complete "benefits of becoming a member" package.
- The negotiations on the Memorandum of Understanding between the city of Tempe and the TSA, covering working conditions, salaries and benefits will take pace in the coming weeks.
