EAA loyals ground Antonio Flyaway
By popular demand, a description and video of the latest EAA Union / Villaraigosa kerfluffle is available over at the EAAUnion site. Running Windows Media Player for the video file at this link should work for you. The union says:
Still no word on that KNBC4 video from last week. The Mayor says that he respects the right of unions to demonstrate.
This morning at 10:30 a.m. Mayor Villaraigosa was met by more than 250 EAA members at Patsaouras Plaza when he attempted to deliver his speech opening LA’s Fly-away service to LAX. These very vocal EAA members shouted “Equal pay for equal work” the entire time the Mayor attempted to speak.
The Mayor could not conduct his press conference in public and had to move into one of the fly-away buses to be able to do any interview at all. The bus left with the Mayor, his staff, and press aboard, but the fun wasn’t over yet. When the bus arrived at LAX departure terminal he was met by approximately 60 more EAA members who start shouting the exact same phrase when he stepped out of the bus. At this point he appeared so upset that he directed his LAPD security detail to disburse the group of EAA members not caring that they were violating our members 1st Amendment rights.
Still no word on that KNBC4 video from last week. The Mayor says that he respects the right of unions to demonstrate.
Posted by Joseph Mailander @ 3/15/2006 05:20:00 PM
53 Comments:
Come on! Do you really think the Mayor wants to have the public see him running from blood thirsty accountants, engineers and architects?
Those pocket protectors can be pretty dangerous!
This is great..
I love my pocket protector and this truly makes me proud to be a member of EAA - the only down side is the time this is all taking away from the task at hand - running the City. Not to be confused with running away from the City AKA MAV style.
Don't get me wrong. I hope EAA members get an equivalent offer to Local 18, but you have to earn it.
I think this "embarass the Mayor strategy" is just going to make him vow to never give EAA members anything until they give him respect. It certainly hasn't gotten EAA anything yet and probably won't.
Show some balls....Strike !!!!
I am ready to put my money where our union mouth is - I agree, let's strike and really make MAV run ...
This is funny. First the mayor runs from these guys then he gets the spotlight taken away from him. Gotta love this blog!
You go EAA! Every union in the city is watching and laughing their ass off at the spectacle the mayor has made of himself.
Why doesn't the Mayor settle with these employees? Why is this such a personal issue with him? I thought he was the great mediator with a background as a labor guy. Looks like he can't mediate, can't deal with them on a business level and can't run very fast either!
And he thinks he's going to run for Governor like this? Puuuuleeeeeease!
This whole mess is giving Arnold something to use on him in the Governor's race. I bet Arnold's people can get tbe footage of him running away from the employees. Can't wait to see that one.
You go EAA!
The video doesn't work...just like the demands their making. Most of them dont even live in the city...quit and let real Angelenos take your job!
Equal work MY ASS! I used to work on the city side and it is NOT equal work. My responsibilities here at DWP are greater and harder!
The mayor has already hinted at Layoffs if there is to be "equal pay for equal work." Just take the 0, 2, 2, 2.25. Better than nothing and you might get a retro.
All the EAA is doing is embarassing the mayor publically. Go ahead, strike. I doubt the city will miss 300 engineers that day. There is enough engineers that will pick up the "extra slack."
No one gives a hoot about the EAA and their efforts. If the local news don't even respect their efforts, what makes you think the Mayor will. NBC and other local news skipped over the mayor's speech and just talked about the flyaway.
This what the EAA gets. They turned their back on their early supporter, Mayor Hahn, to support Antonio and look how he treats them. Honestly, did you really expect anything different?
Wow, it looks like the Mayor's office has his staff blogging this morning. Shit happens Mayor. Do your job and settle this contract NOW! You can't afford to wait until PPL and UFLAC unite with EAA and really kick your ass.
Antonio should have stood up like a leader although he's not and acted like a coward passing the buck to city council on the DWP pay hike. Now, he's saying there's no money yet he wants to spend $39 million on elephants. He always seems to find money when he needs a photo op. Yup, guaranteed the UNIONS will unite and go after him. All this talk of a deficit is a smoke screen to help hm once again act like a coward. STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE
The EAA needs to PROVE that it is equal work... THEN you will get equal pay.
until then... shut up and stop whining.
I wonder what the Mayor had to give the media to get them to bury his "late morning jog". I saw on the news that they can barely use any footage from yesterdays "flyaway" and instead Villababoso had to do ANOTHER press conference at LAX late in the afternoon. What a joke.
I am embarassed for this mayor even if he is too stupid to be himself.
AV's word had NEVER been good. A real mans word is his bond, but AV continues to crawfish on everything he's ever said. I rest my case.
Pobresito. Doesn't Tony have anyone on his staff to advise him? He's looking like a babe in the woods not to mention adding to the material that will be used on him when he runs for Governor. The Governator is going to finish this and make Tony a complete fool.
Antonio is acting like a spoiled child. His personal battle with this union makes him look like a punk. Definitely not governor material.
If the Mayor respects this unions right to demonstrate, why doesn't he respect this union enough to settle this?
Little Tony is showing his little man complex. I hope this keeps up. The press on this mess is hilarious. I would rather read this stuff than the sunday funnies!
Bottom line, EAA will never get the same contract. Sad, but true.
True, but the other unions will be requesting the same items. I just wish and hope the EAA works behind the scenes with the other Unions and have them band together for the same rates as DWP.
The comments from the mayors office can be summed up by the following statements: "That punch didn't even hurt me", "I'm not afraid of you", "My dad can whoop your dad", "I ran away because I didn't want to hurt you".
You fools that are blogging from the mayors office, its true you could suppress the footage because the local TV stations need access to you, but it also means Tony can't get his mug on TV. The mayor now has to start scheduling his events based on how he can avoid EAA, he can't be mayor and not be able to speak in his own city. By the way, the reporters all saw what happened and it is only a matter of how many more press conferences the mayor is shouted off his own lecturn before this issue becomes the news story.
Chick-N-Shit is in AV's pocket. Why would she "hurt" her "pal" AV? The real question is:
WHY IS CHICK-N-SHIT NOT DOING THE WORK SHE WAS ELECTED TO DO...CLEAN UP L.A.
The ignorant dyke is so far up Tony's ass that she isn't able to focus on her REAL job. If she can't do her job, then get rid of her.
EAA...
After the defeat of Proposition 75, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's failed attempt to limit public unions' ability to engage in political activity, Ron Senger decided to ask about how his union dues were being spent.
Senger, a streetlighting engineer with the Department of Public Works and a member of the Engineers and Architects Association (EAA), went down to the City Clerk's Council and Public Services Division and asked to see EAA's financial reports, which are required by the city administrative code to be filed within 60 days of the end of each fiscal year. A clerk told him that EAA had not filed a report since 2003. He then called EAA and told a representative that he wanted to come by and look at the books.
Senger was dismayed, he says, when EAA staff coordinator Angel Calvo invited him into a room and talked at length, but declined to show him EAA's balance sheet from last year. Senger became incensed, he says, when EAA's assistant executive director Patricia Loparo entered the room, told Senger the meeting was over and threatened to call security if he did not leave...
"They are trying to represent people who are trained to ask questions, but they don't want to share information," he said. "They want us to rally and wear strike T-shirts. Yet they communicate through propaganda..."
Doug Collins, former head of the Employee Relations Board and now a private arbitrator in Hermosa Beach, says he is not surprised by Senger's experience or the reaction by EAA's president. "With most unions the books are open," Collins said. "Ever since this new crowd has taken over EAA it's been quite different. You can speculate about reasons, but it's obvious there is a small group of people in charge and they want to maintain control..."
Prompted by Senger's report of his experience, the Weekly visited the city clerk this week to see whether EAA had filed its financial report for 2004. The file contained a letter from City Clerk Frank Martinez to the EAA, dated March 17, 2005, stating that EAA is "delinquent in filing its information" required by Section 4.820 of the city administrative code. The last time EAA filed a financial report was July 30, 2003, after receiving a similar notice of delinquency on May 29, 2003, from former City Clerk J. Michael Clarey. EAA also had received notices in 2001 and 2002 urging it to file information with the city. Before that, EAA had not filed a financial report with the city since 1997...
FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.
A protest at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 27, which some union officials had predicted could disrupt holiday travel, drew a smaller than expected group of demonstrators.
And now, the Engineers and Architects Assn. is coming under pressure from the powerful head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, who warned union leaders that the coalition of city labor unions might not support a strike...
In what many at City Hall saw as a combination of union members' ambivalence and the mayor's clout, the protest at LAX, which union leaders said could draw 200 to 400 pickets, saw only about 90 and didn't disturb travelers returning from Thanksgiving holidays.
"That is no show of widespread support, is it?" asked Rodger Shimatsu, a Public Works Board management analyst and Engineers and Architects Assn. member who declined to picket.
Wow - 4:18 - I would not have thought MAV would go George W. Attack the messengers and avoid the true issues. I could swear this is a repeat of an approach used by a politician who was getting bested by a Union. Anyone recall who? Whoever in the Mayor's office thought this one has obviously been around awhile and seen it before. It didn't work then and so why do you think it will work now?
And don't go slinging mud at Angel Calvo - he is my rep and he does a damn good job. No wonder he was distracted today when I spoke with him. He has some petty poodle assholes nipping at his six o'clock - I am not complaining about where my dues are going because the Union has stood by me 100% - they are busy taking care of their members which is what the real issue is here - don't try to blow smoke up our pocket protectors!
MAV - why don't you just put a decent offer on the table - running away only works for so long.
Laughing my tail off at 4:18.
Hey Senger, don't you have anything better to do than copy and post LA Weekly stuff?
Dude, you better be careful, or the mother ship is going to send out the black helicopters to get you and fly you away to the UN building.
During the Local 18/EAA strikes at DWP in the 70's and 90's, only DWP workers left their jobs. No City EAA members left their jobs to join their DWP brothers and sisters. I know because I was on the picket line as an EAA striker every second of every strike day.
To date, no City Hall EAA member has ever gone on strike. You will get nothing until you do.
Strike or shut up!!! Aquino is just burning up your dues money for nothing. Strike!!!
This stuff is priceless!!!
Taco Villa needs to have the same fate as Gray Davis!!!
Taco Villa...you're a first class assh##e and coward!!! I always knew it but now the whole country knows it.
You are toast!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL @ Taco Villa...You crakkkers are too much. You sure are obsessed with Antonio. You're losing you country...the sky is falling blah blah blah haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Dear Boys and Girls at EAA -
Sticks and Stones may break AV's bones but words will never hurt him.
STRIKE!!! STRIKE!!! STRIKE !!!
Aquino is such an incompetent.
Everyone knows he's using up the EAA treasury and will quit within a year.
STRIKE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE !!!
Bunch of whimps.
Every EAA member should be flooding the EAA switchboard and e-mails with a demand to strike now!
Until you walk, you will get nothing, because you are doing nothing to get a COL raise, except foaming at the mouth.
Equal pay for equal work, my ass.
Most City Hall employee salaries are subsidized by mandatory transfers of millions of DWP dollars annually. City Hall knows that and Local 18 reminds them of it. No other City department (including the other proprietaries)has such a mandatory requirement.
If you ask for a fair COL, you'll eventually get some of it. If you keep up this equal pay for equal work bullshit, you'll get nothing because everyone knows the work isn't equal.
STRIKE + DUMP AQUINO = COL RAISE
(and drop that "Equal..." crap)
It's that simple, folks.
As a surveyor I can tell you that there is no difference in work between DWP and Council Control. I think the general public has the impression that DWP crews are working under live, shorting out wires, sparks everywhere and your life at risk every second. This is not the case. The electrical workers are the guys dealing with the live wires--god bless them. The rest of the work force does the same type of tasks inherent to their profession.
As far as working harder than Council Control don't make me laugh. We had one guy transfer over that got sick of spending his overtime Saturdays in a Bowling Alley. He got bored to death.
I have a relative who works at NBC and will be sending me a copy of the whole tape.
We are really gonna use it big time if AV runs for ANYTHING!!! He can't control the the masses who want him OUT!!! He can run but he can't hide. We have so much crap on him that one doesn't know where to begin.
Let the games begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To March 18 6:09 am
Please post the name of your friend who was illegally collecting overtime while at a bowling alley. He will be terminated immediately upon discovery. DWP does not tolerate this from any employee. It speaks to the character and work ethic of your "friend".
Last time I checked, DWP engineers weren't out there climbing on the power pole and assisting the linemen repair down powered lines, in the rain.
He will be terminated immediately--what a laugh. DWP workers are no better than any other government employee-they think they earn their paycheck by showing up on time.
Go to the City of LA home page. Click on the Personnel Deprtment.
Click on the Civil Service Commission. Click on Agendas and Minutes. City employeees who violate rules do get suspended and terminated.
I've fired two. One was an EAA member, the other Local 18. I don't condone abusing the public trust nor should any of you.
I agree with March 18, 1:08 pm.
DWP field crews who work around high voltage energized equipment deserve higher pay.
Using your argument, certainly, any EAA members handling high voltage equipment can say "equal pay for equal work". Everyone else needs to find a different argument.
Stick to asking for a fair COL, all of EAA does deserve that.
The "Equal..." argument is getting you nowhere. City Hall will probably give you a COL after you drop the Equal Pay for Equal Work rhetoric.
I don't think 1:08 was comparing EAA engineers with linemen. I think the whole issue is that when you apply for job, say a civil engineer, you submit your application, and it depends on the luck of the draw, DWP may call you, or Bureau of Engineering may call you, or the Harbor Dept. may call you. There is no difference in the job description, which is stated as the following:
"Performs professional civil engineering work in the preparation designs, plans and reports on a wide range of projects and works with contract consultants, facilities include streets, drainage systems, pumping plants, building, airport and harbor facilities and utility facilities; requires a bachelor's degree in engineering with 24 units in civil engineering core courses or possession of a California EIT"
The only difference for this job is that a DWP civil engineer is paid more, that's it. Thus if I'm an engineer in BOE designing a drainage system, I would expect that my counterpart at DWP who designs a water delivery system, its all the same theory in hydraulics, to be paid the same.
6:22pm, you make more sense than most posters. Let's have a rational discussion.
Every job bulletin states the pay scales. You are correct that the job descriptions are the same. No disagreement there.
Let's use the civil engineer bulletin for reference. Every job bulletin has two pay scales listed. One pay range for City Hall engineers. One pay range for DWP engineers.
The MOU's are for group's of similar employees at similar levels. When the City looks at an appropriate pay range for a given MOU class of employees, it looks at comparable employees outside of City Service, not within.
DWP salaries are compared with utility salaries for equivalent classes in municipalities such as the Burbanks, Glendales and Pasadena utilities. The DWP salaries are also compared with private utilities such as SCE, PGE and SDG&E.
Anyone who goes to the HR websites for other utilities will see that DWP salaries are generally bettter than the smaller municipal utilities. DWP salaries are also significantly less than the private utility salaries for most every grouping of employees.
Using the same methodology of comparing apples-to-apples, look up the salaries of PW civil engineers in the smaller municipalities. What you will find is that LA PW civil engineers are among the highest paid PW civil engineers in the country. Most private civil engineers do not get as good a salary plus benefits as LA PW CE's.
The same holds true for civil engineers at Harbor and Airports. Civil engineers at those Departments are among the highest paid in the country.
This comparing apples-to-apples by type of department work (not by generic title)is why there are two salaries listed for civil engineers on the job bulletins.
Look, don't get me wrong. I hope you get an identical COL as Local 18. EAA's bad strategy is to link it to equalizing the pay. For that, I fault Aquino.
Let's be honest. No one forced any EAA member to take a job with the City instead of DWP.
I was an EAA member who participated in two strikes. I am saddened that my still fellow brothers and sisters can't see that it will take a strike, not words, to get a fair contract. This is that moment when the words "Will strike if provoked" must be acted upon.
Truly, peace and good luck to each of you.
Funny shit. Fire Aquino? He's the only union leader that has stood up for his members. The rest of the so called leaders sold out to management. I find it very interesting that now it's getting down to the short hairs and the same old cast of characters are trying the same old tactics of personalizing the issue with Aquino. Wake up boys, the MEMBERS are now pissed at you and Antonio... the public will soon follow.
EAA Engineers and proud!
Hey March 18, 1:08 pm,
The stuff about the high power lines, BFD.
Tell it to the family of the Steet engineer that got killed last year trying to fix a sink hole.
This thing is going to go on until the Department of Transportation guys decide they have had enough and pull the plug on the automated street light system. A couple of days of total traffic gridlock should do it.
To March 19, 4:11
I like your style. Doing that will definitely get you a COL raise! Words sure as heck haven't.
Say what you want about the “Equal Pay for Equal Work” strategy, but it does resonant with the public. Speaking with a manager at an engineering design firm, and a PE himself, he could not believe how the city’s engineers were paid compared with private industry. While saying he is not a union supporter in general, in this case he hoped EAA won its issue with the City. After working as an engineer in both the public and private sectors, he found the way LA was treating its non-DWP engineers an insult. He is not the only one appalled by the pay of city workers, the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners said in their public budget hearing that the salaries paid to its employees by the City are too low. The City Engineer in charge of public works has also said the same. It seems that the city’s workforce is less than enthusiastic about their condition and is bailing for DWP and private industry left and right. Without his employees to get the projects done how will the Mayor get himself promoted to higher elected office? Give money to more highly paid private contractors to get the job done. No wait, that was “pay-to-play” Jimmy Hahn, this Mayor will just run around town, being chased by EAA members apparently, making promises he won’t keep because he will not be here. A question to be asked is will he promote first or will the feds get him?
To all the DWP PUNKS, WHIMPS and THIEVES who dared to even comment on EAA requesting equal pay for equal work....SHUT YOUR TRAP PLEASE!!! As a worker who was employed by BOTH a city agency outside of DWP and DWP....you guys and your sorry A _ _ claim of working harder than any other agency is pathetic. As for thinking that only 300 engineers would be missing if ALL EAA striked...think again. You WON'T have engineers at DOT to run the triffic signals,(won't that make your commute tragic) no airport ops coordinators to ensure that there is safety on the runways and oh...you MIGHT NOT GET PAID. Do something useful with your so-called money like going back to school and becoming educated so you won't EVER make any ignorant statements like you posted on this site!!!
So, 3:11 pm, what are you waiting for? Strike!
hey 3:11, How can you not say that some of the DWP engineers are not understaffed on a lot of the design projects? That's ok I make 18% more than the turkeys at the city AND my retirement plan pays more =)
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/rnr/144329723.html
The Mayor in fine form
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