Council Meets With City Workers’ Unions

The City Council met with the heads of the seven city employee unions this week, not to negotiate, but simply to informally discuss positions and concerns.

They said they hoped the face-to-face talks would defuse some of the antagonism that has arisen during contract negotiations by their intermediaries.

City Administrator Mike Uberuaga said after the Monday night meeting that council members got a chance to familiarize themselves with the leaders of the Management Employees’ Organization, the Municipal Employees’ Assn., the Surf City Lifeguard Employees’ Assn., the Marine Safety Officers’ Assn., the Police Management Assn., the Fire Assn. and the Police Officers’ Assn.

Union representatives talked about staffing needs, benefits and pay raises. Huntington Beach workers haven’t had raises since 1992 because of tight budgets that city officials blame on the state taking away tax revenue.

“We know the pressures city councils are under all over the county,” said Nick Berardino, of the Orange County Employees Assn., speaking on behalf of the Municipal Employees’ Assn. But he said Huntington Beach has an opportunity to reward its workers and heal its relationship with them.

Mark C. Reid, a consultant for the Peace Officers Counsel of California, spoke for the Police Officers’ Assn. and warned the council that the lack of raises was sending qualified candidates to departments in other cities.