On Sat, 10 Feb 2001, Michael Hohmann wrote:
> I have a couple of questions:
I work for the City of Saint Paul, in an AFSCME union. Four years
ago we came within --> <-- that of actually walking out on strike. As
such, some of these questions were asked and answered back then.
>
> 1. If MPEA employees go on strike and establish picket lines, will other
> city workers be expected to report to work or can they refuse to cross the
> picket lines, thereby slowing or stopping business in all sorts of city
> departments and agencies (at added taxpayer expense)?
Only the striking barganing unit can legally walk out. The other
unions would also have to file intent-to-strike papers. So only the
PEA-folk will be out there walking the lines. The real 'risk' to City
business, assuming PEA can do this, is the picket-line's effect on Trades
& Labor, and other 3-rd party units that will honor a picket-line.
Construction projects are particularly prone to this kind of job
action. Four years ago, we were DELIGHTED in that we could stop work on
the Wabasha Bridge project, a nice high-profile job. Sewer and Water
Utility repair work, involving digging up streets, would pause or stop all
together... at least utill non-union crews could be found.
> 2. Will city managers hire replacement workers during a strike to assure
> that city business continues unabated?
That's well within their rights. Whether or not funding is
available to find enough people to fill the jobs is another thing
entierly. I'm not sure if the Mayor can get any budget-reserves without
council approval. Also, the City may bank on a short strike, and just
hope it lasts only a few days.
> 3. Will City Council members cross picket lines to provide continued
> management of city business, or will they refuse to cross the line and slow
> or stop the flow of normal city business. How about aspiring CC candidates
> seeking office in upcoming elections?
Back in May of '97, when I was about to walk off the job, the
St. Paul City Council (another DFL bastion) was frantically trying to find
alternative office space for the duration of the strike. It is entierly
up to the current Council Members to decide on whether or not to cross a
picket-line. We knew a few days beforehand, when it became almost certain
that a strike would actually happen, what the Council would do. I would
expect curent CM's to state their positions once the certainty of a
walk-out increases.
As to when that can happen, there are a few time-limits. If they
filed their Intent 1-4-01, then the earliest they could walk out would be
2/3, the latest, 2/23.
Greg Riedesel
SSP
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