Not covered by collective bargaining agreements, managers in city and state government from Sacramento, CA., to Springfield, Ill. have seen their wages frozen and been asked to contribute more to the cost of their benefits over the last two years. Now some of these workers are lobbying to be allowed to join government unions even though they are part of management.
In Sacramento, the former director of labor relations in the city's government, Dee Contreras, is now leading a move to organize some 700 management employees of the city, including top level police and fire brass. Contreras told the Sacramento Bee that management workers upset at having to make multiple wage and benefits concessions that go beyond what was asked of rank-and-file union employees. A year earlier, Sacramento County government managers voted to join a union after voicing similar complaints.
In Sacramento, the former director of labor relations in the city's government, Dee Contreras, is now leading a move to organize some 700 management employees of the city, including top level police and fire brass. Contreras told the Sacramento Bee that management workers upset at having to make multiple wage and benefits concessions that go beyond what was asked of rank-and-file union employees. A year earlier, Sacramento County government managers voted to join a union after voicing similar complaints.
Something similar is afoot in Illinois state government, where management-level employees angling to join a union are presenting Democrats who control the state government with an uncomfortable choice. The state is considering requests for some 1,300 workers to be covered by bargaining agreements, including many management workers.
This comes on the heels of some 10,000 workers who have won union representation since 2003. According to the Associated Press, with the new additions, nearly 97 percent of Illinois government workers would be unionized, leaving only 1,700 non-union managers out of 50,000 workers. The move has prompted legislators to introduce a bill that would strictly define which government workers can belong to a union by rolling back collective bargaining rights for top-level policymaking employees -- those who offer "meaningful input into government decision-making."
This comes on the heels of some 10,000 workers who have won union representation since 2003. According to the Associated Press, with the new additions, nearly 97 percent of Illinois government workers would be unionized, leaving only 1,700 non-union managers out of 50,000 workers. The move has prompted legislators to introduce a bill that would strictly define which government workers can belong to a union by rolling back collective bargaining rights for top-level policymaking employees -- those who offer "meaningful input into government decision-making."
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