Issues Heat UP as Abramson Loses Court Battle

Since I am a negotiation team member of a union currently negotatiating for a contract with Jerry's boys, I'll comment on this.

The city is represented by Tina Heavrin (who wrote a book on negotiation for employers)/

Greg Reddington (who retired and then came back 20 hours per week)

Odelle Henderson (who apparently worked for Public works for 30 years, retired, and got this job). And our command staff representative(s).

1) The city doesn't negotiate. We've had monthly meetings since February with their negotiators, who handed us an incomplete and worthless proposal the first time, nothing to take back to our members for consideration.

2) We counter offered on most items in March/April with the promise of an answer, and then did not receive any additional offers from the city until last week. At that time, they ignored ALL of our prior requests both monetary and non-monetary in nature, and handed us a contract with 2% retro to last July (the last raise in this contract was 2004). They also handed us a "formula for raises based on occupation tax receipts increasing" If the occupation tax fund increases, we get 1/2 of whatever percentage increase they realize. If they get no increase, we get no raise.

We have yet to "negotiate" anything. They've added a bunch of stuff in their favor without giving us anything. It's been a total waste of time, and a travesty to be called what it is. It isn't negotiating, it's a joke.

After our last meeting, we've been put off again for 30 days because they are busy. Maybe I missed something, but negotiating to me is a smoke filled room, where you don't sleep for three days and you work through your differences, and appear days later with some sort of understanding and agreement. Hell, we haven't even haggled with them yet. I've done more negotiating financing my F-ing car with a bank.! The damn ac/furnace salesman and I negotiated more than this.

That's metro louisville negotiating for you. It's a joke, and a waste of time.