Union split on new merger

CITY HALL — A proposed merger between the city’s largest employee association and a national labor union is causing discord between members who have been pushing for the marriage, and those who have reservations.

The proposed merger between the Glendale City Employee’s Assn. and the Local 18 chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, or IBEW, has led to a reshuffle of the local union’s negotiating team and has prompted some at City Hall to wonder if it hasn’t already affected city contract talks.

Last week, the association voted to reject a proposed one-year contract with the city absent of any pay increase, a move City Councilman John Drayman attributed to the discord caused by the association’s talks with the large national union.

“When we are faced with extremely difficult economics, it is disappointing that the interests of the public that I’m sworn to represent are becoming fodder between the interests of these two organizations,” he said.

The association fell a few votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority to approve the proposed contract, which was the result of months of negotiations between the city and association.

In an effort to make up for the pay, the city agreed to pick up the entire increased cost of medical insurance premiums — of which the city usually pays half — and to increase uniform allowances.

But the concessions were not enough to get the contract ratified.

The city must now negotiate a new contract or declare an impasse.

“We have to sit back down with the city and see what else we can do,” said Craig Hinckley, association president. “I am a little disappointed that it didn’t pass, especially by only a few votes.”

The possible merger with IBEW was initiated by several members of the city employee union’s board of directors, Hinckley said.

In a series of e-mails obtained by the Glendale News-Press, the city union’s membership has been split over the possibility. Under the association’s bylaws, any change to employee representation has to be approved by a two-thirds majority.

A vote on the proposed merger has yet to be scheduled because the union has not provided enough information for members, Hinckley said.

“How can the members make a decision without having information?” he said.