DPD Local 17 Member Brown Bag Meeting
Thursday, July 15, 2010—11:45 to 12:45 SMT 4050/4060
DPD recently called in the union representatives who represent employees at DPD for a budget briefing. Those included were the Carpenters Union, IBEW 46 and Local 17. The department notified us that they would be presenting information about the budget that had already been presented to employees at the recent DPD All-Staff Meeting on June 22, 2010. The union representatives were not invited to that meeting.
This is the information disclosed to us at the budget briefing on June 30th. They are planning to start some budget cost reductions in 2010 in order to lessen the projected budget impact for 2011Ős projected shortfall. They said there is a projected $3.7 million deficit in non-general fund revenue streams for 2011. They are looking at making staff cuts in late September or early October 2010. The deficits are projected to be $2 million in Building revenue, $1 million in Land Use and Master Use revenue, and a proportional deficit in overhead from those two streams of $700,000. The department said it estimated that this would translate into 30-35 positions, based on an average of $100,000/employee including benefits. They said they want to give employees as much advance notice as possible, and that they plan to issue notices of layoff at the end of July.
They further stated that the Electrical Permit and Inspection funding stream is in deficit spending mode, and that they anticipate taking in $1 million less than they are spending, thus using $1 million/year from their $3.3 million fund balance, leaving a balance of $2.3 million at the end of 2010 in that fund.
At the meeting, Union representatives conveyed a loud and clear message that members are justifiably angry that while approximately 65 people have been laid off from DPD Since April 3, 2009, not one single management employee has walked out the door. While we made it clear that we do not want anymore of our members to be laid off, we were emphatic that upper level management needs to share the pain caused by revenue shortfalls. We presented multiple concerns about the span of control and top-heavy management.
We also asked for the rationale and department goals that dictated the departmentŐs decisions in the past 18 months on whom to lay-off, and whom to retain. In addition, the unions made an oral request for information about the layoffs that have already taken place. We have sent an information request to Felecia Caldwell. (See attached letter-PDF) We met one more time with management on July 7, 2010 to discuss the information request, and to start to get answers to our questions.
We are not in negotiations with DPD. We will not enter negotiations with them unless you, our members, want us to do so. We are in the process of gathering information from the department and from members. Each union is going to schedule meetings with members to discuss what is going on, and will also pursue other ways to receive feedback from DPD members.
It is a difficult time for members at DPD and we know how serious the impacts from the budget shortfall are for you. We are doing all we can to represent your interests, and look forward to hearing from you. Please check our websites for updates, and feel free to call or email your union representative. Attend a meeting, let us know what your thoughts are.
Local 17Ős city-wide survey provides some insight and input on what DPD members are thinking about the budget and possible mitigations. There will be more opportunities to express your ideas and concerns to us. The Carpenters Union and IBEW 46 will be conducting a survey of their members as well.
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