Panel Delays Decision on DWP Settlement
A Los Angeles City Council panel postponed a decision Thursday on a tentative settlement with the Department of Water and Power’s employee union aimed at offering financial incentives to avoid massive layoffs in the municipal utility.
The council’s employees relations committee delayed a vote on the issue until next week to receive more information about the deal, struck late Tuesday between the Engineers and Architects Assn. and the DWP’s management.
DWP General Manager S. David Freeman said a procedural issue delayed the decision. If the committee approves the tentative agreement, the issue will go before the full council. The pact also needs to be approved by the union members.
The settlement is the last with the DWP’s three employee groups. Freeman has said he needs to pay off a $4-billion debt in part through employee layoffs.
But under the deals struck with the unions, it appears that most employees would be enticed to leave voluntarily because of cash and other incentives.
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