May 25, 2011 - Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle today announced that the city isn’t rushing into anything. "In 2009 the citizens of Omaha demanded, and nearly every candidate for Mayor and City Council campaigned on, three things: 1) fix the half billion dollar shortfall to the Police & Fire Pension Fund; 2) end spiking; and 3) raise the retirement age," said Mayor Suttle. "The Police contract passed in 2010 along with the proposed Fire contract currently before the public, the union, and the City Council, achieve those three things and we have two months before the contract is finalized."
"It’s important for the citizens of Omaha to understand that the City has carefully reviewed the role and limitations of the CIR in regard to the process of negotiating labor contracts - under both the old rules and the proposed new rules within LB 397. Under the old and the new rules the CIR can only resolve disputes relating to wages and conditions of employment. The CIR cannot address numerous issues that can only be changed through a formal negotiation process. The CIR also cannot force a union to raise the retirement age of its members, end spiking, work more years to get a higher pension, give up benefits and pay more cash into the pension system, or reduce the number of staff. These are issues that must be negotiated at the table. The proposed fire contract does all those things that the CIR cannot do, and I feel that is an added benefit to the taxpayers of Omaha."
"LB 397 has already played an important role in our negotiation process. Knowing what the legislation will accomplish has been helpful in leveraging and achieving a contract that protects the taxpayers’ interests while maintaining the City’s commitment to high quality public safety that Omahans expect and deserve."
"LB 397, the bill to reform CIR is much needed and monumental legislation. I want to thank the Legislature, particularly Senators Lathrop, Ashford, Utter, and Speaker Flood for their leadership in getting this legislation passed. This legislation achieves meaningful reform and will provide a number of benefits to the City of Omaha during any potential labor disputes that occur after October 1st, 2011."
"The rhetoric emerging yesterday and today from those who have been consistently opposed to every initiative from my administration, while not entirely surprising, is disappointing and misleading. The process to approve this contract will take a minimum of 2 months, and will give the public, the union, and the City Council ample time to review and analyze the details of this contract. I look forward to a healthy and honest discussion about the strengths of this contract. My administration is dedicated to ensuring that this process is as transparent as possible and that the public is provided with the information they need to be assured that this contract meets the demands they laid out in 2009."
