After digesting Lamont Ewell’s calorie-laden financial diet for correcting Culver City’s budget deficit last night, a leader of one of the city’s six unions stepped outside into the chill air engulfing City Hall. He was not smiling.
“I was hoping the city would look to a creative approach to solving problems,” said Desmond Burns, president of the 400-member Culver City Employees Assn.
Alluding to the 10 percent of the workforce that is in the process of being shed, 60 positions, Mr. Burns was pleased by the City Council’s reaction. “They are looking to safeguard the 14 positions that are potential layoffs in our bargaining,” he said. “I am happy about the way they reacted.
“During the City Manager’s presentation, I was glad to hear him say that when it comes to employee contributions to the pension fund, it is our group that has been contributing for the last five years.
“You will notice that the projection for safety (police and fire pension contributions) is very expensive, a 26 percent increase. Ours is 12 percent. We have contributed for years. And we will continue to do so.”
How does Mr. Burns feel about givebacks that the City Manager is urging all unions to embrace?
“During the last budget session, when Mark Scott was the City Manager,” he said, “we were always willing to discuss employee contributions in other forms. We were looking to safeguard…
“If givebacks will be something across-the-board, all employees, from the City Manager down, definitely if it saves jobs and saves positions.
Everybody Must Participate
“I cannot speak for any of the other unions. I just know that, as a group, we always are sensitive and open to saving jobs.
“But,” Mr. Burns added, ominously, “we are not willing to foot the bill for all the other bargaining groups.”
His union will not pre-establish any bargaining parameters, the president said. “We are open to sitting down and discussing,” he said.
“Of course, whatever we decide, ultimately the members will have to decide.”
Mr. Burns characterized Mr. Ewell’s budget presentation as “productive, sensitive and realistic.”
His compliments come tied, however, with a ribbon of suggestion tied around them.
“During the coming budget discussion, I would like to see addressed the contracting out of outside legal counsel,” Mr. Burns said. “I want to know how much the expense of outside legal counsels will affect the General Fund.”
But he was not finished.
“If we need all of that outside legal expertise, why do we need five city attorneys? If they cannot handle it, and we need all the outside experts, why aren’t we looking to reducing that staffing?
“We want the city to be financially stable. If the city is stable, we are stable.”
