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By ANDREW TUTINO atutino@leader.net
Friday, January 28, 2000 Page: 3A
HAZLETON – The City Council on Thursday rejected five union contracts
negotiated by former Mayor Michael Marsicano, leaving most of the city’s
workers with no working agreements.
The most recent City Hall clerical workers and Highway Department union
contracts and three police department contracts were struck down in near
unanimous votes. That leaves fire department workers as the only unionized
workers with contracts. The only votes for approval of the contracts were
mistakenly cast because of confusion about what was being voted on.
Councilman Robert Stevens, who voted against all of the contracts, said his
vote was not a reflection of how he felt about the union or its employees, but
instead a signal that Hazleton’s financial condition is dire and the city
can’t afford the pricey contracts.
“We have to tell the truth to the public,” Stevens said. “The city is in
a horrible financial situation. We need to look at the implications of these
contracts. That is what formed the basis of my vote.
Mayor Louis Barletta said he and the city’s solicitor, Conrad Falvello,
will enter into negotiations immediately with the three unions, which account
for more than 70 city government employees.
But even if negotiations commence soon, some union representatives are
upset that the contracts were voted down.
“It was difficult for the City Hall employees to know what was of concern
that led to the rejection of the collective bargaining agreements negotiated
in good faith with the mayor,” said Anthony LaBella, the business agent
representing the 20 members in the clerical workers union.
LaBella said he wants to meet with Barletta as soon as possible. Other
union representatives did not speak at the meeting.
LaBella said he will consult with his union’s attorney today to find out
what lies ahead. He was unsure Thursday night if a pay raise passed by the
council last year was still valid because it was part of the collective
bargaining agreement.
All negotiations will take place between the mayor and the unions. By law,
the City Council is not permitted to negotiate contracts; it is allowed only
to vote on their ratification.
None of the five contracts were forwarded to the City Council for
ratification during Marsicano’s tenure. Until a few weeks ago, the council had
never seen the complete deals.
A possible ramification of the rejections of the contracts is a late
budget. By law, Barletta and the council have until Feb. 15 to approve a
budget. Barletta will not be able to calculate what the city has to pay its
employees until after the contracts are negotiated. Before Thursday’s meeting,
he said he doesn’t expect a budget will be completed on time.
Because of a fierce budget battle last year, the City Council never
approved Marsicano’s budget and the city went an entire year without one.