Contract negotiations can be contentious when both sides feel passionately about their respective positions and this is the case between Hialeah and Florida's largest union.
This week a Florida court sided with the union employees saying that they were subject to unfair labor practices that took place during contract negations in 2010. Now Hialeah must decide if they will appeal this decision to the Florida Supreme Court. Hialeah feels that they did not commit unfair labor practices by enforcing a 30 percent pay cut to its union employees.
With the lower court siding with the union employees, this could cost the city millions in back pay. This particular case involves Hialeah's largest union of employees and it includes the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The dispute dates back to July 2010 when the city council voted to impose a contract on the union that included a 30 percent pay cut. The union feels that the city council did not follow the proper protocol to impose the contract because it did not consider a last minute union objection that was stated in the 2010 year-end report. The report stated that the contract should, "Rescind the impasse resolution action taken by the city council on July 13, 2010." The union believes that this means that the city must repay employees for the pay cut imposed by the council. Back-wages could mean a cost to the city of approximately $7 million.
The city feels that this doesn't mean that they owe any back-pay and have not been ordered to do so. Nothing has been decided and the issue is going to be postponed for approximately 30 days until the city decides whether they will appeal the latest decision to the Florida Supreme Court.
Source: The Miami Herald, "Appeals court sides with union over Hialeah in 'unfair practices' dispute," Christina Veiga, May 1, 2012
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