Irvine : Mediator Summoned in City Contract Talks

Contract talks broke down Thursday between city workers and the administration over salaries, comparable pay for women and the city’s grievance procedure, officials for both sides said.

An impasse was declared after negotiations stalled Thursday morning, and negotiators said a mediator will be called in for the first time in the city’s history.

The Irvine City Employees Assn. (ICEA) “rejected our final and best offer (Thursday) morning,” Assistant City Manager Paul Brady said. “The State Conciliatory Board has been called.”

David Suter, president of the labor organization representing more than 300 city workers, said salaries were part of the dispute but not the major issue that led to the breakdown of negotiations.

“We are not that far apart on money,” Suter said. “But we are rather far apart on our (requested) innovations and non-economic issues.”

The union, which has been in existence since May, 1985, has 190 dues-paying members but represents all city employees except management and police, who belong to another union.

Suter said city employees have been working without a contract since the old one expired Dec. 31. Under that one-year contract, employees received a 6% pay increase.

The union is seeking a two-year contract that would provide a 6% raise in each year. The city offered an annual 4% pay increase.

Among the “innovations” and “non-economic issues” the union is seeking is a study on “the historical discrimination against women” in hiring and in their pay versus men in comparable positions, Suter said.

But Assistant City Manager Brady countered that women employees in the city already are paid fairly.