Mayor Dave Cieslewicz Statement on Ratification of New City Labor Contracts

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz released the following statement tonight about the City Council's ratification of new city labor contracts. Contracts for AFSCME, Teamsters, Local 236, IATSE, Building and Trades, and Fire Supervisors were ratified at tonight's meeting. "I want to thank our unions for coming to me with contract changes. These contracts will save the city $5.3 million in next year's budget and will extend union protections to our employees for another 15 months - the longest period allowed under state law. "Because we were able to work cooperatively together and negotiate in good faith, we will have a much better chance of avoiding layoffs or deep service cuts next year. It's another example of how collective bargaining works in everyone's interest. "While Scott Walker tries to divide us, I am proud that we have once again come together to solve our problems and mitigate the impact of this draconian, divisive state budget. That is how collective bargaining works."