PACE Executive Board met on February 16, 2010, to discuss the recertification issues that all unions need to resolve. Now that the drop period has closed, PACE is on a high volume drive to recruit new members to become a part of our elite organization. Members are strongly encouraged to bring at least one new member to join to help meet our recertification goal. To date, we had no members to drop during the month of January 2010.

PACE officials met with Mayor Reed to discuss legislation and pension issues on Thursday February 4, 2010. PACE gained 24-hour access to the Mayor and staff (per Mayor Reed) to meet with PACE Officials whenever he was not on location outside the City. PACE will continue its dialog with the Executive and Legislative branch as the City moves into FY11 budget preparations.

PACE was able to Lobby a 4-3 vote to hold a walked in Legislation presented by Keisha Lance Bottom and C.T. Martin to introduce legislation, giving Department Heads and Commissioners the ability to hire new employee’s above the mid-point and up to the top of the salary range without Council approval. See Ordinance 10-O-0225 as Substituted by: Finance/Executive committee dated 01/27/2010.

City of Atlanta 2010 Council Members are now seated. Pace would like to introduce the new City of Atlanta Council Members elected by the Citizens of Atlanta, as well as the New President.

President of the City Council – Ceasar Mitchell

New City Council Members>>>> 2010 Committee Appointment

District 1 – Carla Smith>>> City Utilities/Transportation

District 3 - Ivory Lee Young>>> Public Safety Committee

District 6 – Alex Wan >>> Community Development/ HR/Finance

District 8- Yolanda Adrean>>> City Utilities/Public Safety/Finance/ Executive

District 11-Keisha Bottoms>>> Transportation/Public Safety

Post 2 - Aaron Watson>>> City Utilities/Finance/Executive

Post 3 - H. Lamar Willis>>> Finance Executive/Transportation

Pace Union President Gina Pagnotta and cabinet members goal for 2010 will include attending more City Council Meetings, sharing more information with members, as we push forth to a greater Union Representation for a better work place and job stability. We look forward to making the City of Atlanta one of the Best Places to grow and work.

The City of Atlanta- Mayor Franklin and the City Council voted to end Furloughs. As of July 2009 City of Atlanta Employees will return to work on Friday’s with Pay. The Proposed budget set for adoption on June 30,2009 for FYI 2010 was apart of a Special Call Meeting on June 29th, 2009 and final FYI 2010 budget recommendations were added. >

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Union Members can review ordinances 09-O-0773 (2) A Substitute (#2) Ordinance by Finance/Executive Committee adopting the FY 2010 proposed budget; and for other purposes. Members should also review the ordinance 09-O-1005 (4) An Amended Ordinance by Finance/Executive Committee to amend Chapter 114, Personnel, Article “V’, Classification Plan of the Code of Ordinances, City of Atlanta, Georgia, so as to transfer positions, abolish and create positions and classifications; provide for certain position reclassifications, and other personnel actions in line with the 2010 Budget; provide authorization for Wastewater Treatment and Collection Apprentice Program Compensation; and for other purposes. >

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NAGE National President David J. Holway and SEIU leaders met on Wednesday April 15 with Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C. The meeting focused on the battles Mr. Biden is leading to bring health care coverage to all Americans, to get passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, and to make a college education an affordable dream for American families.

President Holway and SEIU leaders met with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. Secretary Solis assured the group that she intended to change the way the department operates with respect to ensuring workers—and not solely businesses interests and concerns—are adequately addressed. The Secretary talked about ensuring that the department focuses adequate attention on OSHA enforcement.

SEIU/NAGE/PACE will present union members with a Home Ownership Seminar with great information and assistance to purchase a home for less than you pay rent. Remember the Government has encouraged 1st time buyers with a $8,000 refund on your taxes if you purchase a home for the first time between 1 January – 31 December 2009. Get details at this Seminar plus more information to help you purchase a home.

SPACE IS LIMITED – CALL OR EMAIL TO RESERVE YOUR PARTICIPATION Ms. Janine Brown 404-527-7417 * JBROWN@UNITEDWAYATLANTA.COM

mlawson@nage.org (email)

The City Of Atlanta Budget deficiency was explained by COO Greg Giornelli during the most recent Financial Executive Committee session on February 11, 2009.. According to news source Christopher King (Channel 46 News) on February 11, 2009 many questions were raised about the budget numbers. http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/18693112/detail.html#- Mr. King (Channel 46 news) stating the Atlanta’s COO Greg Giornelli paints a pretty grim picture of the City of Atlanta Finances, during the Financial and Executive Committee meeting.

Greg Giornelli told the City Finance and Executive Committee http://apps.atlantaga.gov/citycouncil/video.htm the projected revenue short fall will be in the 70 to 80 million dollar range. This is approximately 30 Million more than previously projected during the 1st quarter. During the 1st quarter 222 personnel reductions occurred and furloughs began, saving the city 38-48M in personnel cost (per Giornelli). Property tax collection is down more than 15%,he said, however; expense spending is running under budget by 4%, indicating a possible savings of 10.5M in the expense budget (per Giaonelli).

PACE Membership Drive for City of Atlanta Non-Union Employee's is critical this year. The Employee Free Choice Act is sweeping the nation from our own City Council to the New York Post supporting this Act. The Obama Administration is encouraging employees to become a part of unions, which is a very important part of our nations recovery, as we hope to put more Americans working in 2009 and help in keeping their jobs.

Union membership is encouraged to help bring unity into the workplace, strengthen our voice and use it as a resource for employees. Unions help to keep employees informed, fight for better wages, health care, pensions, representation and more. Our community outreach is also important for union members, we use resources to help our members grow and become involved in community growth to help working families.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin disclosed the new FY2009 Budget Summary during a media briefing December 2, 2008. She announced her decision to remove 222 personnel without notice.(Dec 2 Mayor's News Brief) Some personnel were relieved of duty beginning December 2 as the briefing began. With the traditional "Christmas" holiday upon us, the financial situation of the City of Atlanta gave no warning to personnel. 3 weeks before the Christmas Holiday 222 personnel would not be employed. PACE has begun the provisional battle with the City of Atlanta to find ways to protect employees in the future from such drastic measures. Please review the Mayor's News Briefing at: http://apps.atlantaga.gov/videoondemand/video/budget_update120208.wmv (Courtesy of City of Atlanta)

222 filled positions were eliminated from Recreation to Sanitation Departments. Public Works Departments will lose 2.5 million in personnel and reductions in services, which includes the Sanitation department funding reductions. The Recreation Department will lose 3 million from the General Fund, and Planning & Community Development Departments- were reduced by 1 million. The largest reduction in personnel and service was in the Support Departments, with 7.4 million in personnel and service reductions. The new Budget began December 2, 2008, the City of Atlanta Government will continue downsizing until December 12, 2008. As Mayor Franklin advised the City’s Worker’s and the Public of significant reductions in services and personnel, she also stated, possible additional cuts once the next quarter reports are completed.

PACE has worked diligently to come up with solutions that would help Union Members, City of Atlanta Employees stay employed without additional Layoffs in the City of Atlanta. PACE has learned that the City of Atlanta plans to RIF an additional 10% of the workforce  with the Furloughs. All affected employees will be notified on 1 December 2008. PACE has scheduled a meeting with COO Greg Giornelli, Tuesday, November 25, 2008, to talk about the RIF’s and any other ways the city can prevent future layoffs of union members/City Employees. PACE wants all members to hear what Mayor Franklin's accessment of the Cities crisis is.

In the past week several emails has been received from persons eligible for retirement, or very close to retirement, suggesting how they can help. PACE has written the following letter to the City Council in support of Union Members, asking the City Council to offer incentives for retirements. As noted in the letter long term employment does bring experience to the work force; however, the workforce retirees will be leaving, most in the next few years, why not offer some incentives to encourage retirement now and save General funding for personnel wages. This would help keep the struggling city services and provisions to be available for the citizens of Atlanta. President of PACE Gina Pagnotta wrote the following Letter to City Council members:

Mayor Franklin told the City Council and Local News agencies at the Financial Executive meeting today the City of Atlanta projected budget crisis’s is 50-60 Million in shortfall of the FY09 budget. Mayor Franklin along with COO Greg Giornelli explained what has caused the city to enforce Furloughs for all General Fund Employees beginning December 1, 2008 and a immediate hiring freeze for the City of Atlanta Government.

Mayor Franklin addressed a letter dated November 12, 2008 to all affected employees indicating this is a dramatic and unpopular decision in the midst of a serious economic downturn to begin Furloughs. At the City Council Financial Executive meeting today Mayor Franklin stated the furloughs would save approximately 24 million, which is 10% of the salaries divided by 12 for a monthly savings of 2 million. Mayor Franklin stated the shortfalls for this quarter is between 13-18 million, which the city had to withdraw 12 million from their reserve fund. Employees would not be expected to work more than 36 hours a week, 4 hour furloughs each week, for a total of 8 hours furlough per pay period.