Message from Kerby

Greetings,

I know that for many of you, this may be your first visit to the TSA website. On behalf of the Executive Board, I would like to welcome you to the site.
A great number of changes have occurred over the past few months. The TSA is now a recognized bargaining association with the City of Tempe. We have the same bargaining rights as does the TOA, IAFF, and SEIU.

Beginning in November 2007, the TSA Executive Board began formal negotiations with the City of Tempe to develop our first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU is a contractual agreement between the City of Tempe and its employees.

Throughout the process, the Executive Board solicited and responded to comments and suggestions from the association representatives from each department in the City.
The TSA Negotiation Team consisted of myself and Julie Hietter. Julie brings with her extensive experience in working with a variety of City departments. Julie has worked in both Human Resources and Public Works; she also brings with her a great deal of experience in working on employee benefit items.

As a result of serving three terms as President of the TOA, I have written several MOU’s in the past and have developed working relationships with both City Management and our Council members.

Obviously, a great deal of change has struck Tempe this year. Our economic challenges are greater than we have experienced over the past years. We also have a new City Manager who brings with him a different style and direction then that of Mr. Manley. Throughout the negotiations, we have been able to foster a very good working relationship with Mr. Meyer. We are very excited about the opportunities that lay ahead.

A copy of the 08-09 MOU is now available on the website. This contract will govern your working conditions, so I would encourage you to review the document.

In summary, what we have been able to do this year is to preserve the benefits that you are accustomed to such as salary increases of 5% annually until topped out, tuition reimbursement, sabbaticals, medical coverage, etc.

We have also been able to add a few new items, such as ensuring that you will earn at least 7.5% more than anyone you supervise, and a new 75% percentile plan that may, in some cases, allow for increases as high as 7% this year.

The idea is, these items are guaranteed. The City cannot walk away from these obligations unless they can prove a serious financial hardship. Each year we will work to improve the contract adding new items.

So what’s next?

You will note a great deal of similarities in both the MOU and the By Laws when comparing the TSA to the TOA. The TOA is a good model, it has worked well over the past years, and I would like to bring some of these successful processes into the TSA.

My motto with the TOA, and now with the TSA is very simple, “do no harm.” In other words, let’s make sure that there is nothing in the MOU that hurts an employee or gives them fewer benefits or opportunities then they enjoyed before the contract was in place.

Another quality that we want the TSA to express is that the Executive Board is here to serve the membership, not ourselves. The work of the board should be open and subject to review.
As part of that, we have included a 14-day cooling off period. That means that once the contract is provided to the employee group, you will have at least 14 days to review the document before you have to vote.

During the 14-day cooling off period, we will hold several TSA member meetings. At each meeting, we will review the contract and answer any questions that you may have.
You may vote at the meetings if you like, but you may vote electronically anytime until the voting period concludes.

Become a member! - This will be your first opportunity to become a member of the TSA. As a TSA member, you will have a say in what activities the TSA becomes involved in, you can hold office in the TSA, and serve on committees of the TSA.

You will also be covered under a legal defense plan from the law offices of Michael Napier. Mr. Napier is one of the most experienced labor attorneys in Arizona. In addition to representing the TOA here in Tempe, he also represents over a dozen valley associations.

Special Offer - We want solidarity. If everyone joins, we can really move mountains. The TSA needs your support to pay for our accountant, attorney, insurance, etc. You need the TSA to remain a player on what is now a very competitive playing field with TSA, TOA, IAFF, and SEIU each trying to get their slice of the pie.

Here is the deal – If you join by September 30, 2008, your dues will be just $12.00 per pay period. But wait, there’s more! We will guarantee this price until January 2012. But wait, there is even more! By joining now, you will be a charter member of the association, a leader, and ground breaker. If we all join, the TSA will have significant success.

The TSA is also about value - We are the least expensive association in Tempe. As an example, depending upon your salary, your SEIU dues could easily be three times higher and not include a legal plan. This is a great opportunity. Believe me, the TOA has to pry my wallet open to get me to join, and admittedly, I held out a bit. Now the TOA has well over 95% membership, and most members have joined specifically for the legal plan. This is a great deal and a guarantee that your rates will be locked in until January 2012.

Details of how to join will be released soon. It will be a simple form and payroll will take care of the rest. If you decide to get out, you simply fill out the form, and the deductions will stop, it’s that simple.

Read the MOU!

Vote on the MOU!

Join the TSA!

Thanks for your efforts. Together we are making Tempe a better place to work, and creating an environment that allows Tempe Supervisors to perform their work in a safe and well-compensated environment.

Kerby Rapp
TSA President