ALLIANCE ‒ It didn’t take long for Julie Jakmides to make her mark as Alliance City Council’s new president.
Jakmides was selected Aug. 10 to replace Art Garnes, who resigned July 23 after moving into hospice care amid a battle with cancer. She presided over her first meeting Aug. 17.
She broke a 3-3 tie on a crucial vote, rejecting a resolution affecting 14 city department heads.
The resolution, championed by Councilman Ed Lohnes, would have stripped voluntary recognition of a supervisory bargaining union with the administration and have members be non-bargaining employees. The Federation of United Employees is not state protected.
The legislation followed a contract proposal for the FUE unit that called for pay raises. Council rejected it in March.
“I just think it was going to destroy morale,” Jakmides said about her decision.
The “yes” votes for the legislation were cast by Lohnes, Councilman Kris Burgara and Councilwoman Jennifer Kiko. The ‘no’ votes were Councilman Jim Edwards, Councilwoman Cindy King and Councilman Phillip Mastroianni.
Councilwoman Sheila Cherry, who recently had surgery, was not there to break the tie, prompting the Jakmides vote.
Jakmides said she thought the legislation would have made it difficult for the city to recruit and retain employees, and it was “not the narrative” the city needed.
“I don’t think that attacking unions for whatever motivation is the way we should be broadcasting ourselves,” she said.
Edwards had a similar sentiment. “It’s a bad look.”
Lohnes said he has issues with three positions − two deputy supervisors and one water distribution supervisor. He took issue with raises proposed in the first contract that he believed were too much.
He said his legislation would have made it easier for him to support pay raises for the other 11 positions, and address the three positions at a later date.
“I’m not sure what the next move is,” Lohnes said afterward.
Prior to the vote, Mayor Andy Grove and Safety Service Director Blaine Lewis called for the legislation to be rejected. After the vote, Grove said the city will return to the bargainging table and negotiate with the FUE members on a new contract proposal.
Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: In 4-3 vote, Alliance City Council rejects anti-union legislation
Reporting by Benjamin Duer, Canton Repository / The Alliance Review
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By Benjamin Duer, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
