Workers Not Demanding Hike
Editor,
I live here in Hollister and have been an employee of the city for nine years. I am writing to clear up any misconception that citizens may have regarding the headline in the paper about city employees demanding a pay increase. I am one of many and a part of the invisible workforce that most of the citizens don’t see. I do not carry a gun and chase criminals. I do not rescue people or put out burning houses. I am a service employee.
There are only 44 of us now. In June 2004 before the reduction in force, there were 71 of us. We support and respond to a population of over 37,000 people. We are the ones who answer the phones, handle the mail, the filing, the reports, and the record keeping. You will see us when you need to pay your utility bill. You will call us about your business license. It is a service employee who will come out and turn on your water. We are in Animal Control, and will come and catch a loose or vicious dog. Service employees in utilities will respond to an emergency water break and work until midnight to repair and restore service. Service employees in sanitation unplug the city’s sewer lines at all hours of the day, night, and on weekends. We maintain city parks and city streets. We are also in planning, and engineering, assisting with plan checks, projects and administration. We are in recreation, planning and running quality sports programs like flag football and soccer for the city’s youth. If at any time a citizen has needed help with a city service or community issue, nine times out of 10 it has been a service employee who has assisted them.
In 2004 we were asked to step up and make do with less. We lost 30 percent of our workforce, and in return those of us who remained had not only our jobs but the workload of our friends and fellow employees who are now gone. We were asked to give up our cost-of-living increase and we did. In 2006 we were asked to help the city and put our expiring contract on hold. We did. We were asked to support the passage of Measure R, the sales tax initiative. We did. We phone-banked, walked door to door, handed out flyers, and called community members asking for their support. The measure failed. We have acted in good faith and stood by our city. We have done all that we can to support and keep our city going. According to all reports, economic prosperity will be returning to our fair city as soon as the moratorium lifts or if a new sales tax is passed in November. When this happens the floodgates of action will open and we will again step up. Now all we are asking is for the City Council and city manager to take the time to review our contract proposal, honestly and fairly. For three months we have been given the runaround and all we are asking for is a fair shake on our contract negotiations. We have not demanded anything! Please print the facts with more accuracy, rather than painting all city employees in bad light.
Wendi Reed
Hollister
