Jan McIntyre Director of Fleet Services, decided to resign her position before naming 4 Fleet Service Personnel to RIF. Jan McIntyre’s decision to retire would allow four Fleet Service Personnel to keep their current position in the City of Atlanta’s employment. Jan’s willingness to reduce her salary to help save the jobs of others is to be commended. This is truly what the “Spirit of Christmas” is all about. Please send Jan McIntyre your heart felt thanks and well wishes for her decision.

Gina Pagnotta, PACE Union President, announced today, PACE has begun the battle with the City of Atlanta, to prevent additional layoffs without notification. The PACE President was sadden by the news of Mayor Franklin to reduce personnel, especially before the traditional holiday season. Union Members given pick slips for Reduction-In-Force (RIF) should notify Chip Warren at 404 521-9043 immediately. If current Union Members have contact with RIF personnel, please inform them to contact the PACE Union Office to speak to Chip Warren to begin the appeal process.

Mayor Shirley Franklin will hold a City of Atlanta Financial Media Briefing at 10:00am to 10:30am with COO Greg Giornelli, and Jim Glass, Chief Financial Officer on Tuesday, December 2, 2008. The Media Brief will be at the City-Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, 2nd floor Media Area. All Union Members if possible should attend this very important news briefing to learn what the Mayor has in Mind after the start of December 1, 2008 (4) hour furloughs. PACE will follow the Briefing and report important information to Union Members not in attendance.

PACE would like to Congratulate Lynda Byrd on her December 1, 2008 Retirement and thank her for her dedication to PACE Union and the City of Atlanta for a Job well performed. Linda Byrd worked as the Secretary for PACE Union and as a City of Atlanta Employee in the  Dept. of Planning and Neighborhood Conservation - Member who did not attend her retirement celebration may contact her at 404-330-6070 to wish her well and thank her for her services until her departure.

Released for public review Mayor Franklin's letter to Charles B Rangel Chairmen of House Ways & Means Committee dated November 10, 2008 has been posted on the City’s website (see): Letter to Charles B Rangel

Also a joint letter from 3 Mayor’s, (Shirley Franklin City of Atlanta, Michael A Nutter, City of Philadelphia, and Phil Gordon Mayor of City of Phoenix) dated November 13, 2008 was sent to Henry M. Paulson, Jr. Secretary Department of the Treasury of the United States in Washington DC., and is posted on the City Of Atlanta Website (see): Letter to Secretary US Dept of Treasury

 Mayor Franklin wrote in the letter to Chairmen Charles B. Rangel “As Congress debates alternative approaches to stimulating the economy, I urge you to consider the following perspective of the City of Atlanta.” “To accommodate this revenue shortfall, we are facing potentially additional layoffs having already reduced payroll by 30% in non-public safety departments earlier this year.”

In another paragraph in this letter Mayor Franklin wrote:

Lynda Byrd – PACE Executive Board Secretary will be retiring on November 21^st with 34 years of service with the City of Atlanta.

Lynda Byrd – PACE Executive Board Secretary will be retiring on November 21^st with 34 years of service with the City of Atlanta.

Her celebration will be held on November 21, 2008 at City Hall Old Council Chambers; 68 Mitchell Street; Third Floor.  Time will be 2:00-4:00p.m.  Please RVSP by November 14, 2008 to Jackie Ragan at 404-330-6718 or Carlisha Goode at 404-330-6390. 

Picture Courtesy of Fox 5 News

Picture Courtesy of Jova.com

 

Mayor Franklin address the City Council today 12 November at City Hall to announce Furloughs for all employees in the General Fund budget to begin December 1, 2008, and a immediate hiring Freeze to go into effect.

Mayor Franklin said today Furloughs will go into effect for the next 7 months up to one year depending on the Revenue for the next two quarters.  The Mayor stated the furloughs will be 4 hours each week, meaning 8 hour furloughs each pay period instead of cutting Jobs. Workers will have a 36 hour a week work loads for a total of 72 hour every two weeks.  

President Elect Barack Obama’s Victory in the presidential race will give labor unions a strong ally in the White House. (Associated Press/msnbc)

 Obama’s reputation as a conciliator, meanwhile, will be sorely tested by the labor-backed Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow workers to form unions by getting a majority of employees to sign a card in support of a union, rather than through a secret ballot election.(Associated Press/msnbc)

 

Business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce fiercely oppose the measure because they say the elimination of the secret ballot would open up workers to intimidation and harassment. However with the Employee Free Choice Act, (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27547266/ ) intimidation and harassment will be dealt with by Federal Mandates and Laws.