The push by Fort Wayne City Council Democrats to reinstate collective bargaining protections for certain union groups in the city was shot down by Republican colleagues without any discussion during Tuesday night’s meeting.
Council’s four Democratic members, with the support of Mayor Tom Henry, proposed reinsting collective bargaining rules that were eliminated in 2014 in an effort to save the city money long-term. They argued that over the last six years, those savings have not been evident in city budgets.
But Republicans held the line in the preliminary vote, with all five voting against even bringing the proposal to a discussion.
3rd District Republican Tom Didier says he stands by his 2014 vote, and places the onus on Henry for not doing enough to improve the work of those bargaining units.
“Especially the street department; I get calls myself in regards to the street department for lack of contact and getting a better understanding. I think the administration should have done a much better job over the last five years knowing we didn’t have collective bargaining in those five, six areas.”
At-large Democrat Glynn Hines said he was “appalled” by the decision of his colleagues across the aisle, noting it was only the second time in two decades he could recall a measure failing to garner enough votes to just warrant a discussion.
Fellow at-large Democrat Michelle Chambers concurred, saying Republican colleagues should be “ashamed” for not entertaining the debate:
“You all put your chests out for all the good things that they are making your district shine, and getting streets done and sewers done. You drive to work in the morning time with no ice on the road because you have your street department up at two, three o’clock in the morning putting out ice. We have people working here who don’t have a voice. They don’t feel protected, they don’t feel covered.”
Introduced last Wednesday, the measure sought to include a clear path for employees to determine their bargaining agent, a limit on the number of bargaining units allowed, maintaining seniority rights, and identifying a clear path for negotiations and mediations.
