Sanitation contract approved despite looming layoffs
Source: JENNIFER A. WELLS, Marion Chronicle Tribune (IN), Dec 20, 205
Although they're days away from a layoff and their jobs have been eliminated, the city's trash workers are still a part of a contract with various city workers that was approved Monday by the city Board of Public Works and Safety. Contract negotiations began before discussions surrounding trash privatization started, which meant that the city's eight Sanitation Department workers were included in the package, along with street, traffic and fleet maintenance personnel. ….. The contract between the city and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3063 was approved by a 4-0 vote Monday, with board member Jim Swan absent...... According to Spitzer, the inclusion of the sanitation department in the contract will not prohibit Marion Services Inc. from beginning trash collection next month. The Board of Works voted to privatize services in September. "It is not in any way going to impede (the city's decision to privatize)," he said. "We are following the contract in terms of sending notifications to employees." ..... John Francis, president of Marion Services' parent company, Capital Waste Inc., promised the board and the city that he would hire all displaced workers.