More than 3,500 IAM-represented City of Long Beach, CA employees are holding a rally prior to tonight’s city council meeting to demand dignity and respect in the negotiation process.
Join their fight for a fair contract at a rally today, March 24, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. Meet at the Potholder Restaurant, next door to IAM Local Lodge 1930, located at 319 W. Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802.
The city and the IAM, which represents 60 percent of the city’s workforce, have been in contract negotiations for the better part of six months.
“It’s unfortunate that these negotiations are moving so slowly,” said IAM Grand Lodge Representative Richard Suarez, the IAM’s chief spokesman for the negotiations. “We represent the largest employee group in this city, yet city management repeatedly comes to the negotiating table ill-prepared and shockingly disorganized.”
Contract negotiations between the city and the union opened up last October, after expiration of the contract due to the city’s lack of preparedness. IAM members are calling on elected officials in Long Beach to focus on issues of importance to the hard-working men and women who are tasked with making the city run.
If you can’t attend, follow along on the IAM’s Western Territory Facebook page.