Articles

THE MAYOR’S OFFICE IS LYING

From: Tom Coultas [mailto:Tom.Coultas@lacity.org]
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 10:43 AM
To: Robert G Aquino
Cc: Errol Griffin; Ray Ciranna
Subject: Re: Furloughs/Work Schedule Changes

At our meeting on the 26th, we reaffirmed our previous conversations regarding a possible deferral of COLA and that EAA would not lead on that issue. In light of the Coalition of Union's tentative agreement to defer COLA, I suggested that we agree to a short deferral with full retroactivity if a subsequent agreement could not be reached. You countered with a request for a floating holiday as a gesture of good faith. I indicated that I would take that back to the EERC. At no point did I offer the Coalition framework deal to EAA and have no instructions from the EERC to do so. Subsequently I was advised by Errol Griffin that the EAA bargaining team rejected in total the concept of any deferral of the COLA even on a temporary basis.

>>> "Robert G Aquino" 7/6/2009 5:04 PM >>>
Hello Tom,

I have received multiple reports that Matt Szabo, from the Mayor’s Office, has been telling the media that EAA members were offered the same deal that Coalition of City Union members were offered, but EAA leadership refused to discuss this offer with the City.

In our meeting on June 26th, I asked you specifically if the City was offering EAA members the same deal as that offered to the Coalition of City Unions to avoid furloughs and work schedule changes. Your answer at that time was, "No, the City is not offering EAA members the same deal". You went on to explain that you could not offer anything in return because you would have to go back to the EERC to see what could be worked out, but that you needed an agreement with EAA to defer the COLA immediately.

Please answer the following question by return email: Is the City offering EAA members the same deal they offered the Coalition of City Union members in return for EAA members deferring their COLA increase for 2 years?

My Negotiating Committee is eager to see your response to this question.

Thank you,

Robert G. Aquino, Executive Director