VICTORY FOR CITY OF OMAHA EMPLOYEES! City Council Rejects Resolution To Contract Out Pothole Emergency Repairs

Yesterday at the City Council Meeting council members rejected a resolution put forth by Mayor Jean Stothert to contract out pot hole repairs. Local 251 was present at the meeting to voice their concerns on behalf of the membership. Kelcy Johnson, Vice President of Local 251, spoke talking about how we understand that our workers are overworked and the department was stretched thin. We want to address the real reasons of why this proposal was even needed. You can click here to read exactly what Kelcy said to City Council. Tony Burkhalter, President of Local 251, also spoke on behalf of the membership and addressed questions from City Council members. Tony pointed out to City Council that in the past we have utilized other departments to help with the pot holes in emergency situations. Tony also spoke on how this was not an actual cost savings for The City of Omaha. Austin Rower admitted that City employees would lose out on their overtime if this resolution would pass. They would have been spending over 1,000 per hour for the contractors when our people are here, ready and willing to do the job. Omaha World Herald interviewed our President after and you can find the article here . Local 251 knew that if this resolution would pass this would be the start of City workers losing their jobs to contractors, and the city not filling those jobs that are currently vacant. Local 251 feels the City of Omaha needs to be addressing the issue of why people are leaving the City of Omaha Street Maintenance Department at a unsustainable rate, not just a temporary fix to this problem by bringing in contractors to do our jobs.