| ITEM #: 7. DATE: 09/26/2022 AI #:1076 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | AMEND ARTICLE 3-12 TO RECOGNIZE NEW EMPLOYEE GROUPS IN UGFF & GYPOA |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Lyman Locket, Human Resources Director |
SUMMARY
Amend Goodyear City Code Article 3-12 City of Goodyear Meet and Discuss/Meet and Confer updating the eligible Employee Groups to include Ambulance Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) and Paramedics in the Meet and Confer process and Battalion Chiefs (BC) and Lieutenants (LT) in the Meet and Discuss process (only).
Recommendation
1. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-2272, DECLARING A PUBLIC RECORD THAT CERTAIN DOCUMENT FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK AND TITLED "AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 3-12 CITY OF GOODYEAR MEET AND DISCUSS/MEET AND CONFER" OF THE CITY OF GOODYEAR CODE OF ORDINANCES.
2. ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 2022-1558, AMENDING GOODYEAR CITY CODE ARTICLE 3-12 (CITY OF GOODYEAR MEET AND DISCUSS/MEET AND CONFER) UPDATING ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE GROUPS; PROVIDING FOR CORRECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. (Lyman Locket, Human Resources Director)
2. ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 2022-1558, AMENDING GOODYEAR CITY CODE ARTICLE 3-12 (CITY OF GOODYEAR MEET AND DISCUSS/MEET AND CONFER) UPDATING ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE GROUPS; PROVIDING FOR CORRECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. (Lyman Locket, Human Resources Director)
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this specific change. Employee groups will enter into the Meet and Discuss/Meet and Confer process within the budget cycle timeline. Outcomes of the Meet and Discuss process are subject to annual budget approval. Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s) from the Meet and Confer process will be subject to Council approval.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
In September 2004, Goodyear voters passed proposition 408 which removed prohibitive language regarding collective bargaining and provided City Council the right to govern by ordinance, the process of setting employee wages, working hours, benefits and working conditions.
In March 2005, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2005-937 entitled The Goodyear Employee Relations Ordinance which authorized the City to recognize certain groups of employees for collective bargaining. At that time two Employee Groups were recognized: Police Employee Group and Fire Employee Group.
In October 2011, City Council adopted Ordinance 11-1249 establishing a Meet and Discuss/Meet and Confer Process. This change created a new method for facilitating communication between City Management and the selected representatives of two Public Safety Employee Groups. Pursuant to this ordinance, these two existing groups were recognized as the only Employee Organizations certified to represent Employee Groups in the Meet and Discuss/Meet and Confer process. Employee Groups covered under the ordinance were Sworn Police Employees up to Police Sergeant and Sworn Fire Employees up to Fire Captain.
The introduction of ambulance operations has triggered consideration for inclusion as an Employee Group under the Sworn Fire Employee Organization. Due to the categorization of Ambulance EMT’s and Paramedics as first responders and the natural career path to fire service, it is recommended that Ambulance EMT’s and Paramedics be included as an Employee Group represented by the Sworn Fire Employee Organization.
Inclusion of the new Ambulance EMT and Paramedic as eligible positions will allow their interests to be represented by United Goodyear Firefighters (UGFF) during the Meet and Confer process and other labor management activities. Provisions agreed to in the Meet and Confer process will be reflected in the City of Goodyear & UGFF MOU.
The review of covered Employee Groups also recognized that Fire Battalion Chiefs (BC’s) and Police Lieutenants (LT’s) are uniquely positioned in a management role with emergency response duties. The roles also aligned in the natural career progression from positions currently recognized as eligible Employee Groups. Therefore, we recommend recognizing BC’s and LT’s as eligible Employee Groups for the Meet and Discuss process only.
Inclusion of the Battalion Chiefs and Lieutenants as eligible positions in the Meet and Discuss process allows for an annual proposal and discussion of permissible wages, benefits and working conditions. The Meet and Discuss process does not result with a MOU.
In March 2005, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2005-937 entitled The Goodyear Employee Relations Ordinance which authorized the City to recognize certain groups of employees for collective bargaining. At that time two Employee Groups were recognized: Police Employee Group and Fire Employee Group.
In October 2011, City Council adopted Ordinance 11-1249 establishing a Meet and Discuss/Meet and Confer Process. This change created a new method for facilitating communication between City Management and the selected representatives of two Public Safety Employee Groups. Pursuant to this ordinance, these two existing groups were recognized as the only Employee Organizations certified to represent Employee Groups in the Meet and Discuss/Meet and Confer process. Employee Groups covered under the ordinance were Sworn Police Employees up to Police Sergeant and Sworn Fire Employees up to Fire Captain.
The introduction of ambulance operations has triggered consideration for inclusion as an Employee Group under the Sworn Fire Employee Organization. Due to the categorization of Ambulance EMT’s and Paramedics as first responders and the natural career path to fire service, it is recommended that Ambulance EMT’s and Paramedics be included as an Employee Group represented by the Sworn Fire Employee Organization.
Inclusion of the new Ambulance EMT and Paramedic as eligible positions will allow their interests to be represented by United Goodyear Firefighters (UGFF) during the Meet and Confer process and other labor management activities. Provisions agreed to in the Meet and Confer process will be reflected in the City of Goodyear & UGFF MOU.
The review of covered Employee Groups also recognized that Fire Battalion Chiefs (BC’s) and Police Lieutenants (LT’s) are uniquely positioned in a management role with emergency response duties. The roles also aligned in the natural career progression from positions currently recognized as eligible Employee Groups. Therefore, we recommend recognizing BC’s and LT’s as eligible Employee Groups for the Meet and Discuss process only.
Inclusion of the Battalion Chiefs and Lieutenants as eligible positions in the Meet and Discuss process allows for an annual proposal and discussion of permissible wages, benefits and working conditions. The Meet and Discuss process does not result with a MOU.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Inclusion of the Ambulance EMT’s and Paramedics as a recognized Employee Group will assist in providing a seamless career progression into fire service and maintain continuity of having first responders under the Public Safety Employee Organization. This change will avail this employee group to the Meet and Confer Process and will result in future city of Goodyear and United Goodyear Firefighter MOU’s including provisions specific to Ambulance EMT’s and Paramedics.
Inclusion of BC’s and LT’s as a recognized Employee Group in the Meet and Discuss process will assist in providing a seamless career progression from lower ranking positions. This change recognizes the unique roll of this Employee Group as management with first responder duties. Availing BC’s and LT’s to the Meet and Discuss Process will minimize the potential for compensation compression with lower ranks and differentiated benefits that deters career growth.
Inclusion of BC’s and LT’s as a recognized Employee Group in the Meet and Discuss process will assist in providing a seamless career progression from lower ranking positions. This change recognizes the unique roll of this Employee Group as management with first responder duties. Availing BC’s and LT’s to the Meet and Discuss Process will minimize the potential for compensation compression with lower ranks and differentiated benefits that deters career growth.