Tentative Agreement

Well, we are starting to learn a little more about this tentative agreement. On Wednesday, we shall learn more.

The proposal from the City would deduct your salary 3.1%. This 3.1% reduction in pay would spread throughout the year. The proposal for the FOP is that you can take the eight (8) furlough days anytime you wish, before the end of the year.

I just learned that the Chief wants the days to be used before October 1, 2009. If you do not take them on your own, then they will schedule the days for you.

I wrote a letter to the editor. saying that if they are going to make us take the days off, then we should be able to utilize them at our convenience. I have heard that the Mayor and the administration were not going to allow us to take them off when we wanted. As I understand from talks, the administration were identifying days when employees would be forloughed.

This information was backed up when the Human Resource Director sent out an email that outlined specific days when the employees would be furloughed. It even when as far as designating when City Hall would be closed.

I believe that employees could be furloughed without disruption of city services. I do not think that the citizens of Tulsa should be inconvenienced from this economic downturn. No matter how long it lasts, the citizens deserve the opportunity to continue to live without disruption. I also know that city employees know how to accomplish this task.

I base this opinion on the fact that city employees have been working with the least for years. They have done without necessary equipment, but still have performed their jobs exceptionally. Just one example is when the city purchased vehicles that required specialized tools. The city did not provide those tools. Mechanics either purchased tools themselves or they worked with other employees to get those necessary repairs completed. This is just one example, but I am sure that there are many within the police department, the fire department, the parks department, public works and the zoo. There are many employees that have performed above and beyond, but are they often recognized?