Akron’s talks with three of its four unions have now stalled.
The city reached an impasse this week with the Civil Service Personnel Association (CSPA) and is headed to either federal mediation or the state fact-finding process with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Akron plans to tell AFSCME which route it will agree to by the end of next week.
Akron and the fire union are scheduled to begin federal mediation next month.
The main issue in all of the talks is raises, which the unions want and the city is balking at providing.
“It’s very difficult when the city is struggling with its economics,” said Patricia Ambrose Rubright, Akron’s interim personnel director. “It makes for a difficult negotiations environment.”
The city is in wage reopeners with AFSCME, which has 405 employees, most of whom work in the public utilities and public works bureaus; and the approximately 330-member fire union, and full contract negotiations with CSPA.
The three unions have gone without raises and accepted concessions in the past several years. Union leaders also are disputing the city’s characterization of its financial situation, pointing out that income tax revenue is up and the cuts to local government funds from the state so far haven’t been as severe as feared.
“We feel that what we asked for was a very moderate raise — well within what we think the city can afford,” said Dan Sladek, president of CSPA, a 260-member union that represents employees in clerical, administrative, nonmanagerial and customer-service positions.
The police union was awarded raises by a state conciliator after long and difficult talks in January 2011. The union got a 1.5 percent raise last April and another 2 percent Jan. 1 and will receive 1 percent July 1.
Both city and CSPA leaders say they hope the two sides still can reach an agreement before the fact-finding process starts.
“Our union has always been willing to talk or at least listen to what the other side has to say,” Sladek said.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
