City employees analysis finds $12 million surplus
- Ralph Ginese, ECEA VP
Ralph Ginese spoke to the March 14 Club meeting, saying “we were surprised to see that there was $12 million in internal service funds, such as vehicle replacement, that the city has.” “There seems to be a lack of transparency in the city’s finances,” he said.
ECEA represents city employees who are not included in fire, police or public works jobs, such as administrative and clerical workers, building and code inspectors, and a few managers, Ginese said. He described the group as “very small” and without much influence. In fact, even though it represents workers in contract negotiations, it is not technically a union, he explained.
Ginese reported that ECEA had asked about the apparently surplus finds, but “they just kind of turn away and say ‘so what?’”
ECEA members voted to take a pay cut rather than have some of their co-workers layed off during the current budget reductions.EDC member Bob Fuhrmann spoke for many in the audience when he asked Ginese to pass along his praise and thanks to the Association for that decision. “As a former union member myself, I am glad to see unions represented in a positive way,” he explained.
EDC has asked that ECEA keep the Club advised of its activities so that EDC members can support ECEA when appropriate and helpful. Watch this space for further information.
For a look at the analysis itself, click HERE.