Collective bargaining rights for all city employees

Argued bargaining units should follow the 'community of interests' standard so Public Works and Parks can be separate units, objected to draft code language forcing all non-police employees into one unit, asked that union representatives be allowed at any employee meetings, and noted unionization is about more than pay — workload, treatment, and non-retaliation matter too.

Asked why confidential employees are excluded from bargaining units; later urged the council not to hesitate on moving forward with the code changes.

Via Zoom (with audio trouble): asked the city to look to public-sector rather than private-sector union comparisons, and pressed hard for protections covering part-time staff — many of them women — who were historically 'invisible' and lacked health benefits.

Acknowledged budget constraints if more employees unionize, but said fair treatment matters; argued code changes are secondary to recognizing the charter right, and asked that employee meetings be open to representatives of the employees' choosing.

Raised concerns about the city's labor attorney also working both sides, said workers should choose their own union at the table, questioned a reported one-month card-check window, and urged the council 'shall' rather than 'may' approve good-faith contracts.