Rainbow Water District labor negotiations continue

The employees of Rainbow Municipal Water District (RMWD) appear to be at wits’ end with their labor negotiations with the agency. A press release from the City Employee Association (CEA) (representatives of both RMWD employee associations), says, “The district came to the table with a ‘takeaway’ package of proposals that would make the employees worse off each year of a 3-year agreement. Their proposal included 10% drop in pay and 5% loss of benefits for all future employees, a ‘takeaway’ of medical contribution, refusal to discuss retirement issues (Rainbow is on the lowest tier of the PERS retirement system…) <and> cost of living less than ½ of the current CPI.”

CEA responded with a letter declaring their “declaration of impasse in both groups’ negotiations,” sent to RMWD’s interim general manager, Chris Trees, and Tom Puffer, labeled as the negotiator. Trees was not available for comment prior to press time. Robin Nahin, executive director of CEA, says that the district has lost 20 percent of its employees since entering into negotiations in May.

A “Conference with Labor Negotiators” is scheduled for the closed session of the September 15 board meeting.

Also on the agenda is the discussion and possible action to appoint someone to Larry Sundram’s vacated seat. Sundram resigned from the board in August. Applications could be submitted through September 8 for the board to appoint a candidate or choose to call for a special election. Rich Salvagno and Gerald Walson have applied for the position.