Union officials: Mayor Williams is ‘jumping the gun’

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Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams

By David Skolnick

Laying off 30 police officers is ‘insane,’ the head of the Youngstown patrol union says.

YOUNGSTOWN — Mayor Jay Williams is “jumping the gun” by asking most city employees to voluntarily cut their salaries by 10 percent to avoid layoffs, says the vice chairman of a committee consisting of officials from the city employees’ labor unions.

“The unions are willing to do whatever it takes to help the city and the citizens,” said Edward Colon, president of the city’s 116-member police patrol officers union and vice chairman of the Solidarity Group, which includes officials from each of the city’s unions. “We understand the economic plight we’re in. But we want the mayor to take in all factors” before calling for salary cuts and/or layoffs.

The city is facing a projected $3.39 million deficit in this year’s general fund. Because more than 80 percent of the general fund’s costs go to salaries and benefits, that’s where the biggest cut must come from, Williams said.

Having a 36-hour work week for most of the city’s 850 employees would reduce the cost of those salaries by 10 percent, Williams said. That would probably eliminate the deficit, and keep people working without cutting or reducing their health care benefits, he said.

The city’s unions would have to agree to the reduced work week. That’s not something the unionized workers are ready to do, Colon said.

The reduced hours would stay in effect until about the end of the year, and then be re-evaluated, Williams said.

There’s also the possibility that the city can find state and/or federal grant money to pick up the cost of the 4 reduced hours for some of the employees, he said.

Without the work-week reduction, the city’s worst-case scenario is laying off 60 employees with about half of them being the least senior police officers.

“God help us if [Williams] thinks he can lay off 30 police officers and the city can function,” Colon said. “To lay off 30 officers is insane. To even suggest you’d consider it is outrageous. You put the public in harm’s way by laying off police officers. A 10-percent cut in pay and work hours are an equal concern. It’s premature to threaten these types of actions.”

In response, Williams said: “Our goal is not to lose a single officer. However, if the unfortunate situation becomes inevitable, we will work that there be no reduction in the number of officers patrolling the streets of Youngstown. That message will be loud and clear to everyone involved: citizens, criminals, would-be criminals and employees alike.”

He added, “There comes a point when the fate of an employee labor group rests within their own hands. Some labor groups recognize this and act accordingly, taking difficult yet necessary measures to preserve members of their own ranks. They are to be commended. Unfortunately, other labor groups remain in disbelief, denial, anger or blame. They would rather leave the tough decisions to someone else. It is my hope that we can move beyond this hurdle.”

In the past, Williams and his administration have praised the firefighters union for accepting a buyout last year, and have criticized the patrol officers union.

Williams reduced his $105,000 annual salary by 10 percent through a combination of a pay cut and givebacks on some of his benefits.

The Solidarity Group proposed ways for the city to save money almost a year ago, and the administration did nothing, Colon said. The mayor disputes that saying the city implemented some ideas including reducing energy consumption and changes to how it purchases items.

Because more than 80 percent of the general fund is salary and benefits, “That’s where the cuts have to come from. It’s simple arithmetic,” Williams said.

Also, the city is receiving money from the federal economic stimulus package that would reduce its deficit, Colon said. The city should implement the group’s cost-savings ideas and see how much stimulus money it receives before looking at cutting work hours and layoffs, Colon said.

The city has to pass a balanced budget for 2009 by March 31 under state law. The stimulus money won’t arrive for months, Williams said. City council continues to hold budget meetings with departments and will vote on a budget at its March 30 meeting.

skolnick@vindy.com