Rainbow water employees reject 'last, best offer'

Approximately 95 percent of the employees in the two unions of Rainbow Municipal Water District (RMWD) are actively seeking new jobs, agreed members of the Employee Bargaining Units (EBU).

Unanimously, they rejected RMWD’s “last, best offer” and sent a declaration of impasse for both unions, the Rainbow Employees Association and the Rainbow Association of Supervisor and Confidential Employees, on August 29.

There were three “‘impasse issues’” cited in the letter:

• “Cost of Living Adjustment ; and

• Reduced pay and benefits levels

for future employees

• Current Employees Medical Benefits”

See sidebar, Benefit Comparison, to see more on these contingencies.

EBU says the district proposes a 2.5 percent COLA and coverage of 95 percent of the medical benefits, which has been 100 percent. An EBU member says their health insurance is scheduled to go up 14 percent on January 1, when this proposal would take place, and therefore the numbers pencil out a pay-cut.

The Village News sat down with members of the EBU to learn of the poignant battle they are pushing through in order to continue serving the 7,000-plus customers of Rainbow Water. They agreed to do so anonymously.

It is important to note that this group was made of a variety of employees and it was easy to see their intent was fairness, not political motivations or personal crusades, as is often associated with the district. One member said, “We want results that keep morale and continuity, we don’t want to bash directors.”

Negotiations began in May and the EBU was given the impression that the district was in financial hard times. It was almost as if the district needed to ride on the employees’ backs to make it through the coming years. While this is consistent with their story, it is a stark contrast to the boasting of RMWD’s financial security that was shared at the district’s workshops last month.

It hasn’t been made clear to the group which of these outlooks is correct — they believe it to be the latter — but it leaves them frustrated. “We’re being asked to help out, yet we didn’t make the decisions.” They say there were instances where they warned the district to move in a direction different than what it choose and is now costing a lot of money. “It’s a slap in the face.”

One example is the current controversial chlorination system. An EBU member said it was a bad decision that was never investigated, then questioned why the district would be “dumping” so much money into the system if finances are such a problem.

The decisions of the board “are catching up to them,” said one member.

Instances include the chlorination system, the long length of time it took to increase rates and the citations from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) in 1993, which the EBU member says was friendly at the time. That was the initial citation referencing an uncovered reservoir that has led up to the costly citation given just over a year ago that the district now focuses much of its efforts, in time and money, on.

While they didn’t want to talk about the possibilities of annexation, an employee did say that “future investments could benefit the district.”

What could alarm ratepayers is the effect these negotiations are having on the very people who bring them their water each day. The EBU says many employees have already left the district for better paying, and likely more stable, jobs; most still at RMWD are looking to do the same. “We don’t really want to leave, but…” left off one employee.

Some feel the district is not putting its best foot forward in recruiting new employees. According to EBU, RMWD proposes to cut their pay by 10 percent and only contribute 90 percent to their medical benefits, instead of the 95 percent being offered to current employees, which includes a five-percent decrease from the status quo.

In addition, stress has caused employees to stop trusting each other, they say, although a good sign that they were all working toward the same goal came when they voted unanimously against RMWD’s latest offer. The group interviewed said morale and work ethics are dropping fast.

With their coworkers leaving, it puts more stress on the people still at the district. “We have to fill in for others. Right now, I’m doing several different functions,” shared one individual.

“It puts these guys at risk to make up for the slack while the district is trying to find new people,” said one employee, referencing coworkers out in the field. It is also noted that this increases worker’s comp and the cost to train new people.

While they agree the overtime for employees is high, but could be among other districts, one has to wonder how smart that is for the people who manage water; especially when they are dropping more quickly than normal.

“The water has to get to the customer, regardless,” said an EBU member. “DHS has created more work and we have to do it.”

“Our goal is to be able to get things done,” said one of the interviewees. “We’re not asking for too much.”

In response to the Village News’ request for information, Chris Trees, RMWD’s interim general manager, said, “The negotiations between the district and the employees are continuing and therefore I am not prepared to discuss the status of the bargaining process. The board has handled the RMWD side in closed session and it is not appropriate to disclose those discussions with the media. When there is final resolution of this matter, it will be fully disclosed.”