the comedian Workforce Development will now come to order in
the
Before we begin just read out the rules of conduct for our
public meetings 2023 through 2027 pursuant to the Chicago
city council Rules of Order procedure rule, 49 to start an
arm sets forth. The following rules of conduct to be
followed during the public comment period and duration of
all committee and City Council meetings profane or vulgar
threatening abusive or destructive language is not
permitted the meaning of discriminatory or harassing
behavior and speech directed to others is also not
permitted disruptive behavior. Including is Trump the
richest respectful conductor and others presentation is not
permitted banners Flyers are not permitted backpacks large
bag sharp objects are not permitted clear bags not
sensitive color. Do not exceed a certain size will be
permitted and are subject to search food and Beverages and
More canisters and not permitted cell phone place on silent
prior to entering the meeting room individuals must remain
seated public comment speakers are permitted to stand only
when providing public comment small handheld devices may be
used while seated and the user must refrain from
interfering with
you or hearing other individuals individuals or groups
failing to adhere to these rules will be asked to see such
destructive conduct and failure to comply will result in
their being subject to removal from the meeting by the
Sergeant at Arms.
today we have four items on our agenda first the approval
of the October 30th meetings rule 45 report second and
Ordnance 02 02 C 320 23-00 0583 and amendment of Municipal
Code chapter 61 30 regarding information requirements to
employers are supposed to action for alleged violations of
the paid even paid sick and paid sick time ordinance
control from the superintendent police adopting agreed-upon
changes the collective bargaining agreement between a
Fraternal Order of Police and the City of Chicago and 4th
and Ordnance adopting an arbitration option in certain
policy disciplinary cases from the superintendent of police
will now establish quorum
Alderman Yancey
all the minion see is present Solomon Hall Alderman Hall is
present automobile.
Automobile is present Alderman Chico. Chico is present all
the woman Ramirez. Ramirez is present our McQueen Alderman
Quinn is present other person by Shrek with the other
person. But yeah, this is present.
Alden Kirk Curtis Alderman Curtis is present the chair is
present Alderman Taliaferro Alderman Taliaferro is present
Alderman that mean, it's Rosa.
alderman sposato
Alderman sposato is here all the person Vasquez all the
person Vasquez is present all the one in clay.
Alderwoman clay his presence. We have thirteen members
present. We have a quorum by Ruel 59 Committee Member
Alderman Coleman and not giving member all the Silverstein
have requested to attend the meeting by remote means under
rule 59 do the unrelated emergencies. I'll accept the
motion from my shirt with you to allow older woman Coleman
and not remember Silverstein to be present at this to be
ruled Presence at this meeting all those in favor of
Permitting Alton Coleman and aldermen Silverstein attend
remotely. Please respond by saying I and your post and you
painting the chairs the eyes have it.
Yes, sir.
Very good. I would like to know a recognized all
non-members. I would like to First recognize the vice mayor
and I think he deserves a round of applause album.
So we've got all the other brunette Ervin.
I scanned the room Nugent's in the back dividers.
naps Napolitano Fuentes happened worth
Other Woman Dowell is a good one. All right other womanly.
And that's it. Thank you very much. You will be recognized
in our subsequent reports at this time. We will be getting
the public comment period the public comment period is 30
minutes out of respect for everyone's Time. Each speaker is
limited to three minutes. Our first two speakers are going
to be online and virtual today. Do we have Brian Zoll?
Ryan please hit star 6 on you.
Can you give me 3 minutes?
Kevin Rodriguez, my name is Brian Drew, and I'm the
director of policy at the association.
Before you today is the largest Union contract. This body
will vote on representing more than 11,000 positions as of
the 2024 budget despite its size and significance. The
language of the agreement has not been publicly posted for
journalists good-government groups and most importantly the
public to see
Are the 2024 budget Staffing levels approved by the city
council last month raised in this contract would cost
between 188 and $270 over the contract between a purist and
just about an hour ago to BJ of Payne the full length of
the contract via Freeman Freedom of Information requests
and discovered new provision previously not announced to
the public by the administration including stipend for
officers of various training certificate salary step
increase after a number of categories of officers these in
multiple operational disciplinary Provisions are being seen
by many members of the public for the first time today less
than an hour before the meeting.
American impact of this contract deserve a serious and
thoughtful discussion. They also deserve informed public
input which is not possible under the language of the
agreement is made available through the city the BJ
strongly urges this committee the table beside him today
and returned after the full contract has been posted
publicly for at least Forty-Eight Hours Mayor Johnson said
of the candidate in February, the public has every right to
have access to legislation prior to committing to allow
time for residents to engage with their all the persons. We
agree. This is an item of enormous budgetary and Public
Safety significance make it available to the public before
you cast a vote on it. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Also online and virtual we have Brad
teeth.
Brad is not present today very well.
Next up to speak and I will now go to the the room here and
I'll name the next two individuals so we can get the next
folks ready. The first up is Andrea cougar from Chicago
Federation of Labor. Next after Andrea Kruger is done is
Anthony driver Junior.
Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Andrea Kluger. I am
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Chicago Federation of Labor.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak this afternoon. I
will keep this brief. I just wanted to take an opportunity
to thank chairman Rodriguez and Sherman Ervin for coming
together since the paid leave ordinance passed last month
to work on a trailer ordinance that would address many of
the concerns that were lingering in the council when that
ordinance passed. I also want to thank mpea into Chicago
for working with us to find a solution for people who
travel to our great City to attend a convention so that we
can ensure Chicago remains a world-class destination for
corporate events and trade shows on behalf of the 300
unions there half a million members and all the workers in
Chicago who otherwise don't have a voice representing them
in the workplace. We thank you very much for your diligent
work to ensure that workers in.
Don't have sufficient paid time off and remain a first-class
labor-force that we are known for across the country. Thank
you.
Thank you. Next up. We have Anthony driver following him
will be Craig futterman.
Trevor Sherman, my name is Anthony traughber Junior and I
currently serves as the president of the community
Commissioner of Public Safety and accountability and I am
here today to stand unequivocally against the arbitration
provision and urges. You're committed to both know. It's
revision makes a mockery of transparency and push the most
egregious of police misconduct cases in the hands of people
who have no vested interest in our steady or Community
arbitrators about have to publicly disclose cases. They do
not have to reside in the city of Chicago and they do not
even have to sign their names on the decisions that they
make the police board represents accountability. You have a
right to know their names you have a right to attend open
meetings. You have a right to read meeting transcripts and
give public comment board applicants are assessed based on
written criteria by this Council and governed by the
consent decree members are nominated by our commission and
firm confirmed by the city council decision is a slap in
the face to a new commission to this Council and to the
people of this city.
Our commission was created in part to improve how the
police were functions and we are literally in the process
of doing that right now. We just elected to do board
president and we are currently sending his goals for 2024
to bring more fairness efficiency and transparency to their
process arbitration is a part of a broader backlash against
the movement for community-driven police oversight this
counseling
Jennifer that movement because it took five decades to get
here and we will not go back.
Arbitration isn't inherently bad. That part is true. But
when you work in a profession that can take a person's life
or Liberty that bar must be higher attorneys are governed
by the ardc doctors to State Medical Board politicians that
the ethics board candidates the elections board. All of
them are publicly accountable in some way police misconduct
and the most egregious offenses should not be an exception.
We need police and public accountability and we are not
only talking about we are only talking about the most
serious of cases.
No time or whatever this and we're only talking about the
most serious of cases. This affects less than 1% of the
police Workforce less than 30 cases have been heard this
year and less than 350 cases helping her since 2010 taking
this away from the police board confounds basic Common
Sense. The other side will argue that the state law
supports arbitration. But in his decision on this issue the
arbitrator discusses a generous offer from the city of
Chicago to make arbitration an appeals process after the
police board and I got rejected that just goes to show you
how Extreme Measures under state law to throw out these
cases are out of sight.
You will not do anything about what happens after officers
violate these rules after everything. We've been through
adversity Chicago deserve to know more when it comes to
police accountability. I asked you stand up for your sister
if you want to go do an arbitration. Thank you.
Next stop is Craig futterman followed by anajet Young.
German message
This is a this is a defining moment for city. Council City
council's ratification of the arbitrator's award to the fop
would all but guarantee another decade of the impunity of
police impunity in Chicago.
If you arbitrators who would decide police discipline would
do so behind closed doors handpicked by the fop. They have
a powerful Financial incentive to keep the fop happy and
they have a long history of exercising those powers to
protect police from accountability.
City council's ratification of this system would not only
tell police officers that they have nothing to fear for the
most extreme abuse of their powers, but they would Shield
also the most serious cases from public scrutiny were
talking about a black hole. Yes, but would put the most
serious cases in the secrecy back into secrecy because of
the cases that the police department itself is seeking to
buyer folks and firearm.
Since we're talking about cases in which police shot and
killed people cases in which police officers sexually
assault people Cape cases in which police officers lie
cases in which police officers have falsely arrested
manufactured evidence cases in which police officers have
abused their powers to Target black and brown people or
abuse.
As a person as someone who knows as as as about the first
person who called for the release of the video of the Quan
McDonald.
Jason of Jason Van Dyke murder of seventeen-year-old laquan
McDonald as a person who got the car actually from within
someone with the from within law enforcement here in
Chicago pleading stop this bleeding police and I asked this
I got to ask city council this to this Council want to be
responsible for bringing us back bringing us back to the
not-so-distant time when Chicago police officer knew they
could fire 16 shots into the body of a 17 year old boy when
he lay on the street and know that absolutely nothing was
going to happen.
Haven't we as a city learned our lesson here.
This would completely up and our Collective officer our
Collective efforts to make this city a city in which
officers know that they work for all people all of us in
the city that when officers have the awesome powers that we
give officers those powers to arrest to take out Liberty to
shoot to kill to use force that with that knowledge with
that powers comes in an accountability to the people.
bottom line, I mean any officer who doesn't understand and
not just not just understand that but Champion that that
with those powers, and accountability no place and no place
with a badge and a gun bottom line is
don't be the city council that allows the happen.
Next stop is anajet Young followed by Frank Chapman.
Good morning. I'm Anjanette young and I'm here representing
and Jeanette Young.
I come here today to ask all of you guys to seriously
consider what it would mean to allow police to hide behind
the doors arbitration all of you know, my story very well
and if arbitration was an issue, my story would have been
swept under the rug. So I'm here to tell you that for
myself and other families who still have
This is against the city like Christa Archer who is still
has a lawsuit open with the city of Chicago because of a
bad rate like Peter Mendez still has an open case with the
city of Chicago because of a bad raid if we continue to
allow police to hide behind Shields that this this
committee allows them, you know, how behind doing bad work
and not being held accountable then why do we have a police
board if they only get to go behind closed doors and and
and make decisions that no longer effective community.
Payout lawsuit is not justice. So when you see me standing
here and some of you may think she got to pay out I did
that's not Justice. I will continue to come before this
committee every chance I get to tell you that it is not
okay for police to be able to do things in black and brown
communities that don't happen in White Community. It's not
okay. And so I asked this committee. Would you please
please please consider that to vote? No on this because
it's not acceptable for police to have an opportunity to
hide behind the doors arbitration and not be held
accountable in front of the public who pays their salary.
If you vote Yes on this you are being Reckless with all of
our tax dollars. I paid taxes in my own tax money paid me
for my trauma. That's not okay. So you need to say no to
arbitration.
Next up is Frank Chapman followed by Erin Voegele.
Thank you.
My name is Frank Chapman. I'm the executive director of the
National Alliance against racist and political repression
and we have representing victims of police crimes and
torture over fifty years and none of these cases. We have
gotten justice. But in most of them in the woman dry then
we have not gotten justice. But in those cases do we have
gotten Justice because we were able to flush out in the
public what was going on with the police department. I've
seen review board. I've been involved in the struggle for
fifty fifty years and it was founded back in 1973 right now
in Chicago.
I've seen all kinds of review board's independent review
boards. And what have you
And we've had a problem with all of them. But recently we
had an election in this city when we elected people from
the community.
Commission and sit around commission that can Overlook at
that I can have oversight over the police department.
That's the first time in the history of the United States
that that has happened. So we made a tremendous advance in
democracy in this city when we have given the people in the
community the Democratic option to see who polices their
communities and how they needed the boobs and you going to
get behind closed doors we can head it.
You cross rivers of blood to get to where we're at right
now. And so we're not going to let you take that away from
us. We going to fight you on this all the way. I'm not
saying just get to know going we going to fight for a new
vote.
arbitration because we can't have
Police deciding what they're doing with the lines of our
people and we don't be involved in it could be hidden from
our sight.
That's the opposite of transparency. So I encourage you to
vote. No on this arbitration because Justice demanded we
demanded we're not begging you for this we demand in this.
Thank you very much.
Next is Aaron Vogel followed by a pet door.
Good afternoon. My name is Aaron Vogel. I am a district
councillor representing Chicago's 9th Police District. I
first want to thank this body for passing where the most
transformative forms of legislation in the United States
has seen when it comes to community control the police and
how communities have a say in how they get please
empowering communities Public Safety ordinance truly is
transformative and it is an honor to represent my district.
I had a conversation with my district Commander about what
this arbitration what independent arbitration and decisions
for the most egregious offenses made behind closed doors
could impact our community in our district. We are both in
agreement that this would take us backwards. If we are
building a trust with police and in community and for
broader Public Safety for all of us, it is imperative
imperative that we have transparency and accountability
when it comes to how these people committing egregious
offenses.
Are held accountable and so I asked you please please
please vote no and knowing that what y'all is a body have
already done for transformative and accountability
accountability measures in the city of Chicago. This will
devote to yes. I'm going to take us back. So I just heard
you to know where you going to stand on the side of History
Chicago is already leading the pathway or how police in can
get reimagine. So again and arts about know and thank you
for your time.
A tour will be followed by John catanzara.
Good afternoon members of the workforce committee. Thank
you for the time.
Thank you.
Good afternoon members of the Workforce Development
Committee. Thank you for your time today. I'm here on a
paid leave Amendment.
On behalf of the hospitality Business Association Chicago
in her hundreds of small neighborhood locally owned bars
and restaurants. Thank you for the amendment today.
However, we haven't seen it. We haven't read it. We don't
know if it's good or bad. It wasn't on the website as of 9
a.m. This morning.
To quote a former member a chair of business Affairs and
consumer protection. The late great gnome already has don't
make a lack of planning my emergency, which is what she
tells me every time I call her with something last minute
all of my small businesses have to be ready for this June
1st.
Now maybe July 1st. Maybe it's the same time to payroll
providers and the Consultants are contacting them going you
got to figure this out by January one and it's creating a
real emergency for these small businesses.
I look forward to reading this and I look forward to
following up with your officers on this conversation were
it not for the own / retail Merchants Association and the
Chicagoland chamber. I would be here going ballistic cuz I
didn't know there was a substitute until an hour ago. This
is not fair to your small businesses. Never mind the
competition going to have with outlying suburbs and Wards
and neighborhoods and adjacent jurisdiction. You don't have
these mandates. It is so hard to operate and now we're
adding three weeks between this and eliminating the tipped
wage on these businesses the least we can hopefully get
from this body going forward is a robust conversation and
education during covid-19 new rules every month.
We get webinar some bacp within 3-4 days.
Nobody wants to go back to those days. But could we go back
to that level of communication? I hope this isn't an
outrageous request on behalf of the locally-owned bars
restaurants with music venues. If it is, I'll be in the
back right corner, and I'd like to hear better plan. Thank
you. I look forward to reading the ordinance. I hope it
fixes. Some of the many issues were brought up a month ago.
Thank you for your time.
Next up will be John cannizzaro at followed by our final
speaker. Ghian Foreman.
So I only got three minutes at 3.
Thank you for having me but I'm a little troubled by the
fact three days ago. You told me I'd be providing testimony
in a lot of answer questions from Alderman. Now, I'm
relegated to just three minutes in apparent effort to
silence the men and woman's voice for rights and labor. But
let me start with this. This is Chicago. This is the site
of much of the labor movement in this country where it was
found it while it was Stockyards Ironworkers. You name it?
They built unions built this city and made it what it is
today, whether it's appreciated or not. The fop is a union
forever. We have been looked at as a second-class union. We
have made a very clear stance that no longer will be
tolerated. We want to be treated like everybody else. I
hear a lot of emotional testimony against this provision
that it is somehow going to eliminate transfer.
Currency somehow eliminate fairness. Let me be very clear
arbitration does not decide a recommendation or
investigation. They simply take the results of an
investigation the recommended discipline and then determine
if that is fair or not. That is all an arbitrator. Does you
do not have to live in the city to understand fairness the
police board has shown time and time again that people who
were living in the city born in the city are not fair. I
can give you an example after example and just so you know,
you talked about transparency the police more deliberate in
private behind closed doors. They don't do it in public. So
let's call a spade a spade here. It's a fallacy to say that
the current system is so extremely transparent and I will
tell you this and the esteem my esteemed other half. Mr.
Franczyk is sitting to my left who helped facilitate this
agreement. This arbitration award was the first award
issued by the arbitrator in and out.
To jumpstart the mediation arbitration process to get an
end result product, which is the further bigger package. He
didn't do it willy-nilly he shows that very specific
arbitration proposal because he knew it was a slam-dunk
solid and solid and basically protected by labor law in
this state. If you reject this proposal and the council
then rejected on Wednesday. All you are doing is postponing
the inevitable this is protected in labor law and
I'm just telling you it is a fight. You will not end up
winning and you are subjecting my members our members to
needless torment. I'm going to tell you this the next
speaker is going to come and tell you about the police
board that he cared for 10 years while I could tell you
that president of that police board. You want to talk about
transparency. There was one of our officers fighting for
his career right now over bulshit. Pardon my French I
apologize iPods, it gets the better me, but it's
frustrating and you'll understand why because literally he
told me to my face don't worry that officer is going to be
all right after he single-handedly for them to the full
police board for termination because it was an emotional
decision. That's what the police board does. That's why it
hasn't been Fair.
And our last speaker is getting Foreman.
Good morning.
Where is the speaker please? Thank you so much, sir. Good
morning, chairman Rodriguez and members of the committee.
I'm Deion Foreman president of the police board and unlike
John. I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak to you
today. Despite the change. No one knows better than you how
important it is to maintain safety in our communities and
you all know from your experience as Leaders of your Wars
that the residents of Chicago must trust government
especially as police department to believe that there will
be safety. You have guided the city through a tumultuous.
Time establishing a strong police accountability system and
holding us all in the system accountable to the public
trust. The issue. We are discussing today is another
opportunity for you to build and maintain public trust in
the accountability system. Chicago has the most extensive
civilian oversight of police of any major city in the US
with each of our four civilian agencies playing a vital
role in the Chicago's police accountability system. One of
the primary duties of the police board is to build public
confidence in the accountability system by serving as an
impartial decision maker in the most serious police
disciplinary cases these cases range from charges of
unjustified police shootings to other significant
allegations of misconduct such as excessive force illegal
searches and sexual misconduct.
The arbitrator's decision if allowed to take effect will be
a serious setback for police accountability in Chicago
their 19 discharge cases against police currently before
the police board including five police shooting cases in
for domestic violence cases. The arbitrator's decision will
drive these cases behind closed doors at a time when it has
never been more important to increase the Public's
confidence in the process for handling allegations of
police misconduct and to build greater trust between the
police and the communities they serve for more than
60 years the police board has the sole responsibility for
deciding cases in which the superintendent of police
recommends that a sworn officer be discharged from the
Chicago Police Department. The board has performed this
Duty with Independence and openness. The public can stay
informed throughout the police board's process for
considering these cases because the board places a high
value on transparency and makes a great deal of information
available to the public the arbitration process on the
other hand takes place behind closed doors charges brought
against officers are available on the board's website. They
are not made public in arbitration. All of the board's
disciplinary hearings are open to the public to arbitration
hearings are closed to the public.
The board takes final action on all cases at its public in
public at its monthly meeting where each individual board
members vote is announced and recorded arbitrators make
their decisions and private the board post on it.
No, you had the three-minute sweet. We got the gist. Thank
you. Thank you so much. Mr. For me.
Thank you. Mr. Thank you. The time. For public comment has
now expired. I want to acknowledge a committee members have
received and all those present have received Excuse me.
Give me a water. Please. Give me water, please. Excuse me.
Excuse me. Any comments public comments have now expired or
going to move on with our proceedings. Thank you so much. I
want to acknowledge. We have several written Communications
that have been sent to the committee. They're awesome. The
packets that are in front of you today. Every Committee
Member should ever see those comments with the package. We
sent this morning and yesterday,
Our first order of forgive me. I do want to recognize for
the Quorum Alderman Carlos Ramirez Rosa and also non
committee members have been more and alderwoman hadn't let
me see anybody that came here after very good. Alright. Our
first order of business is the approval of the rule 45
report from October 30th, 2023. Every member of the
committee should have received the copy email as well as a
hard copy today. Can I have a motion to approve the rule 45
reports?
So move by Alderman Curtis all those in favor of passing a
report. Please respond by saying I
Any post in the opinion of the chair the eyes have it?
The second item before the committee today, oh,
202-300-0583 and amendments of the invisible code chapter
61 30 regarding information requirements to employers
supposed to action for alleged violations of the pay Lyft
pay leave and paid sick and safe time ordinance. We do have
a substitute ordinance that was sent to committee members a
so 2023 Dash 0 0 0 5 8 3. Can I get a motion to accept the
substitutes? So move by Alderman Yancey all those in favor
accepting the substitute. Please respond by saying I and
you posed in a pint of the charity ice habits. We now have
this item before us.
I do want to recognize today. We have three experts in the
Box answering questions ACP commissioner. Ken Meier
assistant Council commissioner Miguel Campos and Ray Philip
Santos senior assistant or counsel before we move forward.
I like to give the sponsor this ordinance and opportunity
to have the floor so I acknowledge all them in her oven.
English German members of the committee first off just want
to thank everybody for their diligence and work on this I
will be called a trailer which covers the term from
Springfield, but the but they are an adjustment 20-minute
of the ordinance that we passed that our last a city
council meeting again thinking about all of the
conversations have been high around you or Denise
understanding the need to do something because of
Springfield accident for the clock on us since the
introduction of the ordinance in passage of the original
ordinance of myself in German Rodriguez, and others are in
the space has been working on an effort to bring for
adjustments 2D paid time off Ordinance. One of the pieces
that have brought the most of our conversation with a
private right of action affordapay leave components that
Under The Substitute will be changed into a 2025 July 1st
of 2020.
And then from 2025 of July 1st 2025 to 2026. Don't be
occurring. Of 16 days, which either the pay. Some
organizations operate on a one week pay. Some operate on a
two-week pay. Or 1st and 15th style. So to give 16 days or
whichever is less as an option to cheer. Now this portion
of the ordinance will sunset of its own accord as of
I'm sorry, July 1st 2026. If no further actions taken by
this body of Man by the council, but also allows a oil-less
to issue a report detailing what issues or concerns come
about during this particular up here. So again, or we will
have a again a second bite at the Apple on this a further
more of the overall changes will not be implemented until
July 1st of 2024 which aligns with the balance of pretty
much most of our ordinances in that respect. Nothing really
starts on January 1st to give a time for organizations to
adjust their systems and to get in line with this
furthermore. There was some other language clean up around
who is covered up by the soreness and it kind of goes back
to the original of are sickly. We're basically it defines
anyone who works at least 80 hours for an employee with an
any 128 20 day. Will qualify.
How did this particular coordinates and again various
changes on a definition but that was probably one of the
most important clean up the extra Define who this would
cover of the original owner decided as little as two hours
which again I had an impact on some of the industry's that
helped drive the economy of our City, Maryland hospitality
and Convention in this is the same language that exist
today or for anyone is covered under the under the sick
leave or
Furthermore there's some minor adjustments as relates to the
CBA language in the minimum wage ordinance also gives the
office of labor standards the ability to conduct
investigations and requires a paid time off policy to be
provided to the covered in covered employee while they're a
lot of positive changes that have been made in this in this
effort. I do want a particularly thanked members of the of
the team number one Bridget early Deputy Mayor working out
with labor out of the mayor's office furthermore
commissioner kid Mayer from the ACP AR rifle Santos in his
team for getting us through all of the necessary language,
but at the end of the day this I think it's a step in the
right direction while it is not what I would call 100% of
everything that everyone wanted. I think it's been a fair
and in a relatively good process began gives us some Runway
to work with is this
Final piece that we were most concerned about a really will
not have in the implementation to July 1st of 2026. And
this is even after a after cheer. And an opportunity to
study some of the things in this particular component begin
chair. Thank you for the back and forth and see you got a
bandaid on the back of your head and it's not my fault that
I know we have some fights but it wouldn't be so but none
the less. I look forward to robust conversation, but I
would like to the committee support in the passage of this.
Thank you. Thank you terminer van any questions to the
matter automobile.
Mister chairman, we just ran through this thing last month.
It sounds like there is quite a bit of some sort of changes
to this. I would echanges talked with the business
community and have they agreed upon these changes.
We made a commitment at the last committee meeting. I made
a commitment at city council to work with German are going
on this we've had lots of discussions with a lot of
different. I asked about the business community in
business. She has anybody in particular that you worked
with on this from the business Community standpoint, you
know, I was just sitting with the Small Business Council
couple days ago, and I had a conversation with the number
of others over the past as well.
Thank you all small business advisory Council work with
Illinois Restaurant Association chairman Burnett also had
conversation with the Chicagoland chamber. So again, I
would say that this is not is somebody going to jump up
jump up and down and say Yahoo! Yahoo! Yahoo! Know I don't
believe that's going to happen. I don't think you got to
get the same thing from even the CFL saying everybody is
jumping up and down say this is this is the perfect perfect
peace. This was not just was a conversation and I wear
people gave on both sides. And so while it is not I will
call it.
Hold what everybody wanted is something that we can work
with them before then again with the study Provisions in
the time that it will take to kick in or they'll be an
opportunity to see some of the things in action and have
the ability to make further adjustments if need be well
again, I like my my question really didn't get answered.
But I just think that the time and effort that went into
passing is Ordnance and then to come right back not even 30
days with a substitute of this nature. It's just another
rush job as far as I can see being so, you know, I want to
be recorded hoping no one there. Okay. Thank you all them
in all their woman Nugent.
Thank you. Thank you chairman. Thank you to you and Sherman
Ervin for for working on this. I know you promised us in
the last Council and I'm very grateful that you guys at put
something forward. I'm reading it over right now and I just
had one question and I'm looking at looks like section 11
maybe see to I just want to make sure I understand it.
If for example of something was wrong in my paycheck, is
there anything in there that let me rephrase? I want to
make sure that they're in notice to the employer in there.
Go to the box.
breakup songs good afternoon at the Zoo, Chicago
so this this. Allows for the
the person feels he's a big here or there are victim to let
the employer know that there's a problem and then gives
until the following paycheck after that happens the
opportunity to for the employer to cure that issue. I want
to make sure it's a in here that the employer know that's
the only concern I have is that I really appreciate the the
legislation and I think it's moving in the right direction.
But if I find an employer and I grew up on payroll in
QuickBooks or something like that and I don't know I
screwed up I could be in a whole bunch of hot water. If
somebody hasn't told me I love all this. I don't know if
it's possible if we can just get in the notice to employer
in there if it's something we might consider.
I think German and I have talked this through I think the
running theme was in and I think I've heard this for a
couple times around we want to give folks about P. To
resolve. So that means from the moment infraction. So
that's that's where that that comes in the employee.
Doesn't it seem as if the employee doesn't say anything to
the employer and they don't know and they can't cure. Is
there anything that we can do to just encourage
notification and if it's in there and I don't know I've
tried to just read it quickly in here. So I apologize but
that that's kind of where I'm going.
Thank you. I do I understand your point and in some
respects, I believe that by working with oil-less another
point and in this is our land and I want to use this
analogy of a person who is
a senior living at home versus somebody that's in a nursing
home and in some respects that we need a middle ground and
that's where I think that oil-less can serve and be going
to be someplace that individual doesn't necessarily need to
go to court because Aunt at the end of the day the the idea
is to get that individual what he or she is do what
happened without having to go through the process in the
time and expense of doing that and so it's part of this our
conversation in with the you know, the posters around
minimum wage and other things is to provide that type of
information to employees where they may be having to
challenge our to get this done that they reach out to the
office of labor standards and make that a part of which
then they can stay Anonymous. They can you do make these
reports because there were concerns around Premier League
vulnerable populations of in the lower wage workers that
are made not feel comfortable bringing this type of a
Call Chase to their to their to their superiors off for
fear of some form of Retribution of something. So we want
working with a v a c P & L S to create a lane and Avenue
for those individuals to come forward of what they're for.
They're just do without necessarily triggering something on
the other half. I had on on the triggering something else
from a corporate Spectrum.
Okay, thank you so much. I think that but that means that
OLS can notify an employer so it gives I just make sure
people get some form of notification. That's why I believe
that through oil-less in your ability to investigate
without you know, without complaint or in some industries
that we know traditionally have had these type of
challenges. I think all of that language is leading toward
helping to make sure that these workers know that there's
someone else watching over their actions without
necessarily having it having to be reported by anyone other
than other than us has unity government enforcing it.
Thank you chairman. Okay, thank you. See no further
questions. Oh, sorry. I was just kind of waiting to see
what where we're going.
I was roll call last night with a phone call from somebody
from the administration and unlike sure I'm okay with this.
I mean or give him an extra six months before we start
screwing these businesses do I get an extra six months? I'm
okay with it, right? So then upon further review of my
esteemed colleague from the 9th Ward here to ask you a
question that you guys didn't really answer. So I'm going
to flat-out answer the question the question. Is it
specified a little bit more maybe a little bit more
specific. So you said we talked with people we work with
people I would man I didn't get into any really calls about
this at this point. All my stuff was in the beginning
people begging me not to support place and let you know how
I felt about it. So now it's here now or give him an extra
six months, which is a good thing. But but you are asked
what do we talk to about it when we talk to many people, so
I'll ask you a specific easy question.
Did we talked to Erma that we talked to the chamber and we
talked to the Restaurant Association so you can answer them
in any order if you can and cuz I catch these people and it
doesn't look like to meet her jumping for joy all over to
so maybe it's because I don't like the whole thing in the
beginning. I don't know. I'm guessing a little bit happier.
They got an extra six months. So these three people are
texting me and they're not too happy about this. So who did
we talk to did you talk to those three people do 3
organization? And I don't know the address you or do I
adjust the budget director?
I'll dress pants. He's not here.
Never mind, then answer is no I'm not I personally did not
speak to Irma. I personally did not speak to the chamber. I
did have conversations with the small business advisory
Council and the Illinois Restaurant Association all new
brunette had conversations with the Chicagoland chamber of
the three that you mention. The only one that to my
knowledge that did not have any direct contact for myself.
Remember those committee were is the other retail Merchants
Association Lester represented by someone that I don't know
that I've talked to in relation to this.
The answer is vice mayor Burnett talk to the chamber and
that's it. No odds and I spoke with the Illinois Restaurant
Association. Okay, you mention Burnett Association of small
business advisory Council was a hundred percent happy with
this. I'm not even at 100% happy with this. However, I know
this is a step in the right direction and gives us the some
additional time and additional Runway to make additional
changes if need be so.
I think that what was before us is an opportunity to not
have certain things and I think that if we don't take the
opportunity to do such I think we will do the business
community of further disturbance by not passing this so we
have chairman we have can Meyer here we have Ray Philip
Santos here and I forgot to add a third persons up there,
but for some reason we didn't bring
Sam Toya red peach or Chauncey rice, but whatever. I can't
support this anymore. I'm sorry that I said, I would
support this on the phone, but this is a whole different
ballgame now. So once again, I cannot support this, so
please record me also as a no. Thanks. No problem Alderman,
and I've spoken to similar groups. And I think the ACT is
also spoken to a number of different groups any further
questions.
Alderman Chico, you want to move to pass them on this for
my apologies? I learn more go ahead and I hadn't gotten
this and I was still looking at Champion Irving with his
introduction was and rallies that had told her the right to
cure if I'm looking for and I'm missing it is is that in
here cuz I think you coming over here like what's 7 days or
if I forgot what that amount in an ottoman Rally's days or
longer. So what's where's the on what page is that? So the
same section that on the news you refer to?
section section 11 page six
6-1 30-100 a seat to essentially gives 16 days the lesser
of 16 days or a pay periods for curing
right. I just need to know where I was at. Thanks.
Joseph Joseph from work some of his more businesses. I
think one of the things that we would like to work with an
apartment or something Plantation of this and we have a lot
of questions, you know from his more businesses. I think
that we have more than the Goodwill to be in compliance. I
do think that a lot of the questions comes on in the
exceptions on the small businesses as well as
implementation and compliance. So we like to work an
organized at least with the local Chambers, you know
information sessions and how they can be in compliance so
that there's no misinformation we welcome with many of our
businesses are having part of the conversations. I think
what he remains is to make sure that we continue in
communication with them and that we work in in the in the
implementation phase with the support of a war department
VA c&p on other programs available as well as all the
resources available. It is a tough time and no doubt about
it for a small businesses. So we were
Make sure that we bring more protections to them and I will
say also okay, we can have more Equity so that you know,
the big businesses are paying there for sure so that we see
the inequities on the ground. So we more we get more
support more resources and again more information for
compliance. I just want to go there for the wreck or
something that we are hearing from her small businesses on
Chambers and I will state the queen, today about a business
and you know, I reached out to be a c&p on his behalf who
reached out to you within a matter of hours and I'm
expecting a very quick kind of support here. And now we
have another six months as well all them in a pile of time.
I see you end up taking care of each other. Very quick
question. Is there another version of this that has been
submitted or covering the same Topics by another an
alderman? That is not Brooke?
Before your committee yet.
Excuse me. I'll try to get some in a piece of legislation
as well as a couple of the same the same topics for for the
most part.
This is very specific to a 30-day sure. It was very
specific to that one of these actually more expensive
includes the extension for 6 months and some of the other
items that are German are outlined. Would it behoove us to
kind of look at them both at the same time or or is it are
they two different objectives moving in different
directions, or are they covering some the team? I would say
that.
His effort was at 30 days Alderman Irving's was at seven
days. We settled on 16 in a labor wasn't happy with that.
But it was a part of that gives if you will. So that's
where at I made a commitment at Council in front of all of
you to work with German Irvin on this and we've done that.
Okay. Can we have a commitment to look at the other ones as
well though? I mean it before we before you go do something
and I mean, I agree what you're doing something to make it
better than going to the appropriate process here. I've
gone through my commitment to work with her even on this. I
think we're there on this piece of legislation. So any
other way but this is not this is not just that the fact
that we do have a study that's been written into this piece
of legislation. The study I think will be both 2 to look at
the impact on workers and also businesses as well and we
can take
Up again at a later Point fair enough. Thank you.
All right. I think I live in Chico moves to pass on the
substitute all those in favor signify by saying I also
supposed name.
In the opinion of the chair. I think I've heard enough eyes
and heads going like this that the eyes have it with the
exception of aldermen susato and Alderman bill from the
committee. Thank you very much.
I'll report this boat out as a recommendation to pass at
the next city council meeting on Wednesday, December 13th.
The third item on the agenda is an ordinance adopt adopting
agreed-upon changes to collective bargaining agreement
between the paternal order of the police and the City of
the of Chicago and this time I'll turn over for panel to
explain the proposed agreement reached in mediated
arbitration for a panel. We have Tiffany Porter Adams cheap
labor negotiator for the city of Chicago.
We also have James franczyk outside counsel and I slow down
so I noticed you guys are just getting into the box David
Johnson outside counsel. Not sure if I said your name and
Commander Donna Rowling from the Chicago Police
Department's I think we are going not in that order, but I
will hand it over to the panel. I'm hoping this is about a
20-minute presentation.
I'll be timing you mr. Franczyk and y'all can begin when
you're ready and we'll take questions the wrestler. Thank
you. Mr. Chairman is this thing and everybody hear me? All
right, ladies and gentlemen of the council is a pleasure
and an honor to be here this afternoon. We have much to
discuss and we will try diligently with your admonition to
stay within your strict time limits. First a little
context. This is the 11th contract between the city of
Chicago and the fop going back to 1981. This is the longest
contract ever negotiated between the city and the fop. It's
10 years from July one 2017 to June 30th 2027.
This contract took the longest time to negotiate in the
history of the city of Chicago six and a half years or 78
months. The follow-up second longest was a mere fifty two
months. This contract was by far the most difficult to
negotiate we one through three mayoral Administration.
There's a combination of voluntary agreements as well as
interest arbitration. There were tens of thousands of
documents and proposals. There were literally scores of
negotiating sessions covering hundreds of topics.
And scores of meetings not only with the fop but with
Community groups all their persons the monitor from the
consent decree and many others and I might also mention
that we went through covid during the process of
negotiating this collective bargaining agreements in the
end. There's three parts. There's the October 2021
agreement which Incorporated accountability changes in
eight years of money. That is what we called page. One of
the collective bargaining agreement space to was the
interest arbitration award what you have covering 22
mediated arbitrated and agree to provisions and part 3 is
the arbitrator's decision on the police board in
arbitration before you today or two ordinances.
This presentation will discuss the first ordinance and that
is the mediated settlement. Then with the Germans
intelligence will get the part to the arbitration in the
police for bad back for just a moment to Phase 10 Phase. 1
agreement was adopted by the city council and ratified by
the members of the fop back in October of 2021 will spend
the bulk of our limited time today. Talk to you about face
to Butt Paste one was particularly.
Important so we think it justifies a few comments from our
chief labor negotiator Cecily Porter Adams with respect to
the accountability Provisions Cecily afternoon to Adams the
city's Chief labor negotiator. Thank you, Sharon Rodriguez
and committee for allowing us to speak about this agreement
and to discuss this most important agreement as Jim
mentioned. This is going to be a 10-year agreement and one
which we believe is in the best interest of the city of
Chicago the police department and the individual members of
a police department on the accountability piece, which is
phase one is Jim noted. These were previously discussed and
approved by city council back in 2021. These very important
accountability Provisions will be incorporated into the
10-year agreement and reaching agreement on these
accountability changes the city of Chief what was required
by the consent decree as it?
It's a collective bargaining process with the conclusion of
bargaining negotiations and the agreement finalized which
will incorporate these accountability provision. The
department can focus on implementing these significant
measures and move forward with implementing the provisions
of the consent decree without any CPA impediment at this
time. We'll turn it over face to to gym and I'm sure Ashley
face to which is the most important.
Expected what we're discussing. There's three parts of that
that we want to bring to your attention. One is the length
of the contract to is compensation and three are the
operational changes that are included and all of this is
set forth in the transmittal letter, which is included with
your documents first disagreement was extended
I'm faced one from June 30th 2025 to June 30th, 2027. We
extended it for an additional two years in my opinion
having done this for more than a number of years. This is
the single most important aspect of the face to process
that we're bringing to your attention. We think that this
extended agreement will give the city a new Department
additional latitude to implement historico initiatives and
Commander Rawlings going to talk about those initiatives to
implement the accountability process of the chief labor.
Negotiator talks about is going to give the department in
the superintendent latitude to implement their important
initiatives. And as you all know, we have a new
superintendent who enjoys the respect and the confidence of
a wide variety of folks in the city of Chicago including
members of the police department.
Agreement will permit the implementation of reforms in the
consent decree and extended to community benefits Beyond
those that are covered in the consent decree Beyond those
that are covering the agreement. Perhaps most importantly
we think that the extended agreement committee and the
things that I just described while he still confidence in
this ability of the apartment and impact the morality
gravity morale of the entire department and hopefully lead
to increased productivity compensation part of the
extension agreement was also an agreement the increase next
year 2025 the otherwise 2021 agreement from 2 1/2 per cent
to 5 per cent base wages for 2026 from 2% to 5% And then
for the last two years a cola provision with a minimum of
three in a man
My 5:00 depending upon the cost of living in the Barney
teams opinion that is consistent with what we did with the
city council to do with civilian Union. It recognizes the
increases in the cost of living in the Department's
opinion, which Commander Rawlings will talk about the
minute it will assist in the tracking and retaining police
officers over the 10-year term of the agreement. The
average race will be between
8.1% and 3.5% of the previous ten collective bargaining
agreements only three at a lower percentage across the term
of the agreement. And even in those three instances, the
lower percentage was only a half 2.8% 7 of those previous
tenant agreements had higher percentage increase the third
aspect on Phase 2 in the operational changes and for that
I'll turn it over to Commander well,
Good afternoon, Commander Donna Rowling Labor Relations
Division Chicago Police Department. The accountability
measures economic incentives and operational changes in the
proposed agreement. Give the superintendent the runway
needed to implement the transformational changes needed to
better the department improve overall morale assist with
recruiting and retention efforts and puts us on a good path
to achieve consent decree compliance. The operational
changes contained within the agreement include the
department the ability to offer incentives to field
training officers and effective field training program is
necessary for in for reinforcing policies and principles of
safe effective and lawful policing the key component of
this field training program is the field training officers.
The department is traditionally struggled with attracting
and retaining officers.
All this role. It's a difficult role. They have these are
the officers that are out teaching our new recruits how to
be effective and safe police officers. This agreement
offers incentives to attract more qualified candidates to
fill this role.
The agreement also creates the opportunity to build better
teams within the public transportation unit. This unit is
tasked with keeping our public transportation system safe
are buses trains and platforms under the prior agreement
80% of these vacancies were filled by a seniority-based
bidding process the new agreement allows management to fill
50% of these vacancies by management rights essentially
giving the commander the opportunity to build better teams
to comeback crime and violence on the public transportation
systems.
The agreement also allows the department to create homicide
teams within the five detective division areas in order to
improve homicide clearance rates that apartment looked at
Nationwide agencies Nationwide for Best Practices. The LA
model is a proven model that the department is looking to
adopt but the current contract does not allow the
structural changes needed to implement this model.
The proposed agreement removes these impediments. The
creation of the homicide teams will directly benefit the
community by allowing detectives to focus more time and
effort on their individual homicide investigations. This
will increase clearance rates help bring Justice to
families and loved ones of homicide victims.
Homicide proposal includes an expansion of the family
liaison program. This is the program that provides support
and information to the families of homicide victims with
the creation of the homicide team. The department is
looking to increase accountability and ownership over each
individual homicide investigation.
The agreement also allows for economic incentives to
attract members to certain positions including Crisis
Intervention and bike officers. The officers are
increasingly tasked with calls for service for individuals
experiencing mental health issues. The CIT program was
designed to provide additional training for these officers
to equip them with knowledge ability and resources
necessary to provide a safe and dignity dignified response
to these individuals. The bike officers are necessary for
large-scale events crowds and protest these officers will
play a key part in the upcoming Democratic National
Convention. These economic incentives again will seek to
retain officers in these positions.
Additionally, the parameters regarding the cancellation of
officers days off has been codified in this new agreement.
These parameters are important to ensure that officers
received the proper rest and downtime needed to work in an
effective and safe manner.
Without I'll turn it back over to jump like a commander a
couple of brief very brief closing comments. I'd be
derelict if I didn't recognize and thank this bargaining
team going to me. No David Johnson my partner Commander
Rawlings and our team captain Cecily Porter Adams. It's
been a privilege and an honor of my professional life to
serve with them. A tip of the hat to John Cotton's are and
his team John passionately and aggressively in a many
instances even wisely advocated on behalf of its members.
The mediated agreement would not have happened, but for his
considerable efforts, finally the mayor the Police
Superintendent and your bargaining team recommend
enthusiastically and without reservation and mediated terms
of this collective bargaining agreement. Thank you, mr.
Chairman, and thank you member
the city council
quite impressed those less than 20 minutes or less than 20
minutes, but we can talk some more if you'd like sitter
before recognizing questions. I just want to acknowledge
that we also have been Amino Cabello managing commissioner
of the Department of Human Resources and Deputy Mayor
Bridget early in the Box answer questions as well. And we
will now start with taking questions from committee members
and then we'll go to Nocatee members and if there's no
questions, that would be great as one.
Remember, this is on the contract.
any questions
All right. Nope Altima Quinn moves to pass on this matter
during no roll call vote. I will take a vote of the all
those in favor signify by saying I any opposed on the
matter.
Okay, Henny Penny the chair the eyes have it.
That happens quicker than I was ready for. Give me a second
to the pass at the next city council meeting on Wednesday,
December 13th.
Before I move on and want to recognize another 29 committee
members who were present Alderman Va Gas and all the person
sits for Lopez.
Or the Quorum wonderful the fourth item before the
committee today is an ordinance adopting an arbitration
option in certain police disciplinary cases for this item.
We have the same expert panel Sicily Porter Adams Chief
labor negotiator City, Chicago James franczyk outside
counsel, David Johnson outside counsel and last but not
least a commander. Rowling from the Chicago police
departments.
Back to you guys. Thank you, mr. Chairman and members of
the city council on the committee for your positive
endorsement of mediated settlement. We have a point of
order from Alderman Jefferson County Fair by Sir Hugh and I
had an opportunity to speak regarding this issue on a few
occasions and one of the things that I express to you as we
as we have this issue bought before a committee is just a
representation from both sides. We spoke about that and I
asked who was representing the fop mean you did tell me
that fop President. John cannizzaro would be a part of this
panel today because I'd like to ask questions and I'm sure
my colleague may want to ask questions from both sides. So
who's representing?
The apple pie today and who's representing the city as it
relates to this this disciplinary case issue with the
arbitrator ruled on it was my intention to have the panel
be a bit broader but given attention that was given to me
about previous Union contracts not having a present for you
to be present at the first and foremost was the most recent
Coupe contract with twenty separate unions and asked me
also and they did do public comment only so I made a
decision to keep it consistent 22 that presidents so we
don't we don't we only have we only have a city to the yes.
I ain't sure when I do believe that's that's a bit unfair
especially when we do have a very contentious issue. That's
before us where I think we need to have a way in from both
sides because this is this is not an easy decision to make
with regard to police discipline and I firmly believe that
you told me in your conversation that you believe it's fair
to have questions that are be able to be answered to both
sides. So I I certainly disagree with just having the city
represented. I'm before this committee today and would hope
that we wouldn't
At least have someone from the fop represented as well.
We're going to move forward.
It's German first. Let me begin with some clarification
because there's been discussion about this publicly and in
meetings that we've had.
The city council has the right by Statute IE the Illinois
Public Library relations there by contract between the fop
in the city of Chicago by the October 2023 Award of the
arbitrator and by president to separate a decision on the
police board from a decision on the media to terms which
the committee has recommended the arbitrator repeatedly
recognized in his opinion that those issues were agreed
upon and the police board arbitration decision was not the
superintendent in the mayor are recommending that the issue
is and is being considered separately Chief labor
negotiator. Especially Porter Adams will cover as she
didn't her descent which I would urge all of you to read
and it's included with your materials. The reasons why we
are recommending rejection of this part of the
I want to briefly and it will be brief cover the process.
First if the city council not the committee, but if the
city council desires to reject the police board decision
and must do so by about 60% of its members or 30 bucks is
the entire membership of the council not just those voting
second rejection must happen with 30 days of submission the
30 days start today. If no 60% rejection, the award
automatically become by Statue part of the collective
bargaining agreement. If the award is rejected, then it
goes back to the arbitrator with the reasons from the city
council for rejection.
If the arbitrator hears is original decision or modify so
it comes back to the city council to accept or reject Again
by a 60%
If the city council rejects again, then the decision can be
taken to the Circuit Court of Cook County the standards to
reverse an arbitrator's award are limited and very
challenging before I turn it over to Chief labor negotiator
specially one final comment.
It was a significant accomplishment and I'm going to
restrain from overstating it that the city and the fop
reached agreement on many many matters subject to city
council approval and this committee's just positive
endorsement. But the only significant matter that we did
not reach agreement on was the police report issue, but you
should be aware that we did have lengthy discussions
regarding this issue the fop did offer suggestions along
the way but in the end we were unable to reach an
agreement. So with all of that said I'm going to turn it
over to Chief labor negotiator Cecily Porter Adams and
keeps him afternoon Adam. She's leaving to go. She ate her
City's Law Department.
The final entry arbitration award deals with one issue and
that is the form or lengthy suspension and discharges were
police officers just by way of a brief background the Labor
Act states that disputes arising under a collective
bargaining agreement shall be resolved through binding and
final arbitration unless the parties mutually agree.
Otherwise the city and the lodge have had 11 collective
bargaining agreement for more than over four decades and
the parties have always mutually agreed otherwise and
allowed the police board to exercise exclusive jurisdiction
over certain Des Moines, Area cases, including discharge
during the negotiations. However, the lodge made it clear
that they would no longer agree, which is there right under
the law.
But given the 40 plus year history of having the police were
decide these complex and significant issues and given that
there has been no indication that the police board is now
somehow incapable or ineffective at that in performing that
function the city took issue with the largest position and
we objected to their proposal when we were ejected that
proposal nevertheless. The arbitrator ruled that consistent
with the Labor Act in years of Interest arbitration
president. The lodge would be awarded the right to
arbitration for suspension for 365 days or more and
discharge is this specifically the arbitrator held over the
city's objection that the officer in the lodge could elect
the Forum arbitration or police board for certain
suspensions and discharge cases. He then ordered the
parties to draft language to reflect his order which the
city did the arbitrator rejected the city's proposal and it
Did the largest position in that is outlined in the award
that is being considered today?
To be clear the bargaining team and the city we understand
the status of the law. Yes, the union has a right to
arbitrate in our proposals. We even acknowledge that right
one of our proposals was to allow arbitration and the
police were the police. What would make a run would that
decide the case first and then it could be appealed to the
arbitration process the following the law having
arbitration and the police board.
Rejected that proposal on ordered us to draft language to
acknowledge that there would be an election by the lodge
and the officer between those two forms where we
fundamentally disagree with the arbitrator's opinion. It
has to do and where we emphasize it's in our descent if the
perimeter surrounding that arbitration if arbitration is
ever going to be awarded to ensure transparency and
legitimacy that arbitration has to look different than what
is outlined in that descent. So there are five things first
as noted despite 40 Years of agreement and no evidence that
the police force has been effective. He rule that officers
in the lodge Penelec the form for certain police discipline
cases. Thus removing the police board exclusive
jurisdiction over those cases.
Secondly, when an officer or the lodge select arbitration
the arbitration hearing will be closed to the public under
his ruling again. We understand the status of the law, but
nothing prevents the arbitration hearing from being open to
the public in the same manner as the police Board hearing
is open to the public. In fact, there are compelling
reasons for where him to have awarded an open hearing
having a closed hearing runs afoul of the city's overall
goals of transparency and a rose The public's trust in a
disciplinary process if there is no trust in the process,
what are we doing? He also the third thing that he did is
we proposed that the arbitrator undergo the same training
as required by the consent decree for police board members,
the arbitrator rejected that objecting traditional training
defies logic arbitrators can and should undergo training
that would enhance their ability to decide these very
complex cases and keep in mind he's okay.
Is that were not within their jurisdiction before
warfleigh? We propose that officers be placed in a no-pay
status until the arbitration takes place. This is
consistent with what happened by and large of officers now
and is consistent with every other city employees as you're
probably aware when we discharge a fire a city employee.
They're no longer to pay status if they want to appeal
their termination they can do so, but they remain on paid
unless and until the neutral says, you know,
What you will be awarded your job back. This is the
arbitrator turns this concept on its head and besides that
once the superintendent recommends discharge and the
officer is service charges that officer will remain in a
page that is until the conclusion of the arbitration
hearing again. This is not happen with any other civilian
or any other City employee. Finally the arbitrator order
that this provision become effective retroactively going to
September 14th of 2022 of a collective bargaining agreement
are effective upon ratification Wilder maybe agreement to
apply turns retroactively. They're done in a way that makes
sense here to go back and look at cases that are already
underway is unnecessary and burdensome and there's no
justification for us to do. So overall. It is dire for the
public to have confidence in the process of those police
officers accountable the integrity and legitimacy of a
process must be shared by all.
In this award does nothing to sustain or promote any type
of legitimacy. In fact, it goes the opposite direction by
closing the hearing process of the public and allowing
officers to remain in a full case status while they after
they have been served with disciplinary charges as we noted
in the food in our dissenting opinion. Their award will
likely frustrate the city's efforts to bring about
fundamental and necessary reforms in the police department
feel lost at the public confidence in a disciplinary.
And it will ultimately work against the officers covered by
this agreement. We thank you for your consideration, and we
didn't Tire team is happy to answer any questions and maybe
post. Thank you.
Okay, we'll open this up to questions. I have on the
committee Lansing Chico lined up off committing a politano
on two bars and we will get started with Alderman Yancey
and I'll take Kansas. Yes. He's going
A question so present catanzara or in his comments talked
about the air compared to lack of transparency during the
arbitrator's arbitration process to a similar lack of
transparency. If the police board is deciding this
question. Can you offer some clarity there is open to the
public. There are times that they go off the Record and
their conversations between the attorneys or the hearing
officer. But the testimony of the witnesses was being
presented at the hearing that part is open that is the part
of the arbitration that we were seeking to have open in the
same manner as the police board and that's been rejected
for the arbitration. The entire process is not open to the
public events the testimony of the witnesses and things
like that. I like to move to pass on it.
I'll hold that until till the end next up Alden Chico.
I could share.
And the police department go on strike.
No.
And why not?
Statute adopted 1984 prohibited it for policeman public
security and firefighter so they can't go on strike the way
we resolve contract issues in the police department. And
the fire department is through interest arbitration. That
means the selection of an outside person who comes in and
settled the terms of the collective bargaining agreement
and that is in lieu of a right to strike that non-public
security employees have
so what this award be tied into the police department's
inability to go on strike.
Do do the police department have any do you feel in your
opinion that the lever to taken away from CPT by the
ability not to go on strike.
No.
Could you explain why or why not?
Expand on that question a little bit.
So I come imma Chicago police officer. I've been one for
the last decade and you know working the street midnight
Spong hours dealing with the things we deal with.
Our working conditions are in in the point of a union is to
improve working conditions are working conditions.
Sometimes are are terrible. We could things thrown at us
people. Yell at us people attack us.
We don't have the ability to strike. We don't have that
ability to take a step back.
this award
the term behind closed doors. I think that's kind of severe
migraine. Nothing is behind closed doors. We have the most
oversight in the country in the Chicago Police Department
the most oversight.
Do you want to go on the record and just recognizing that
the most oversight in the entire country?
So I do support the ability to an arbitration. I do support
it, and I just wanted to share that with my colleagues to
acknowledge what we go through every single day as a
Chicago police officer on the street. Thank you.
Auburn thank you. We'll move on to Alderman Taliaferro all
revealed and Aldrin Vasquez make a chair when I just have a
couple of questions for Miss Porter Miss portal. I made an
opportunity to read arbitration agreement award as well as
your rebuttal and the arbitrator.
Specifically liens on a state law. In fact, he leans on
Section to Section 8 of the labor law also liens on 17
separate municipality cases that he is. Well as other
arbitrators have agreed on this issue up with other
municipalities and he cites those 17 decisions. I'm in this
ruling. Let me also relies on case law with any decision.
How do you reconcile that with with your with your
dissenting opinion where you say nothing other than a
municipality? I should say that you do side public opinion,
which I agree with you. My green with your argument with
regard to transparency and I agree with your argument
regarding accountability and the impact that this decision
may have on that.
South side of public opinion. I didn't see any citation to
win a state law or any cases or any decisions. You do cite
a room and regulation with which the police board currently
has outside of those items. Are you relying over or is your
is your opinion founded on anything else?
Sure. Thank you for that question. And I think they're two
answers to that first. We acknowledge as I stated before
that the state law allows for unions to go to arbitration.
So we didn't disagree with that our proposals incorporate
that Concept in that firstly we said right you can have a
right to arbitration. Here's how we can look number one it
we can have the police board. And then thereafter act if
the officer does not agree with that decision that could be
appealed to arbitration. So it allow for two bites at the
Apple. Maybe not the most effective approach but it did
allow for the police Ford that open space to happen as well
as arbitration so wasn't inconsistent with the law then
when that was rejected the second approach that we took to
the third approach that we took was that okay fine
arbitrations the law here it is. But how does that
arbitration look what he cites does not say that
arbitration.
Not in those words are looking at the Statue to sell. It
doesn't say that arbitration has to be closed. It doesn't
prevent an open hearing. It doesn't prevent arbitrator from
being trained as are the consent decree requires. It
doesn't prevent that the note a status. Those were things
that we were raising that allow for arbitration and both of
our proposals. It would have been consistent with the law,
but he took a different approach this one at this what I
wanted to ask you as well as portrayed portrayed have been
so excited based on the American Arbitration Association
and National Academy of arbitrators arbitration proceedings
are private. However, and this what I want to ask you if
you guys might get a discussion with the large regarding is
the arbitrator and
fop in the city can agree that the proceeding be open to
the public. Have you worked with the apple peel? Was there
any engagement because that seems to be the main Crux of
your argument with the city that this is not a transparent
process and Dad and you know, I might have heard the term
several times a day already that it's behind closed doors.
So was there any conversation?
With regard to working with the fop. I'll take make sure
that these proceedings are in fact open to the public
because arbitration rules and regulations that they go by
the aann a specifically says as long as you as long as the
two parties agree, these proceedings can be open to the
public. So what's the conversation what has been the
conversation regarding it making this open to the public
because I think that's what we all want a proceeding that's
open fair and transparent and if we can have a proceeding
it's open fair and transparent. I think you'll get some
support from both sides. What was that conversation like
with regard to working with the fop on a 8in open
proceeding?
I'll start at me finish. I don't know if Jim wants to jump
in but on that point once the interest arbitration award
was issue. We had discussion for sure was a poppy about a
number of the terms and that was when we were able to get
rid of the tension bonus and reach a different agreement on
the question of transparency. There was just that there's a
session about all aspects of it. However, what was being
proposed in disgust didn't go nearly as far as it was
necessary to have an open and public hearing for SSI have a
limitation that only a certain number of people can be in a
room where at the police orders are much more open process
where you can watch online or you can phone in
Actually come in in the open space. It wasn't enough for the
transparency that they say you was thinking also use under
percent correct in this house looted to at the beginning
and watch the product for the mediated settlement is there
were extensive discussions with the Union obviously on the
police board issue as well as with the arbitrator a couple
of really quick Point Alderman you side correctly the
longlist I think 17 opinions that the arbitrator has an
award of other municipalities starting with the
Great city of Bartlett we pointed out that Chicago isn't
like those other places. There is a whole slew of statues
that differentiates the city of Chicago from other
municipalities in the in the state of Illinois. And we
thought that recognition was important to hear the Triple-A
rules in the National Association of arbitrator on light
Section 8 of Labor Act are not mandatory on anybody. They
were not required to do that. Yes the arbitrator so I took
because the arbitrator work voluntarily under those rules
last but not least is I was fortunate to be there in 84
when this law was was drafted including the provision.
It mandates arbitration in collective bargaining
agreements, you know at that particular juncture in time
and recalled that this has been the case in Chicago for 40
years. Now that we've gone to the police before we try to
adapt this to the specific circumstances to the city of
Chicago and the short and the long of it without going back
and forth on the proposals that were made is yes, the lodge
did come up with some suggestions, but in our opinion, they
weren't nearly robust enough to satisfy the need for
transparency.
Show me my my last question. I believe I should be my last
question is a worst-case scenario missing goes through this
entire process and
it ends up in the circuit court and is we know the Velvet
Raiders likely going to be given some difference in a
circuit court? What would this city be liable to if
anything are we going to be required to pay attorneys fees
or what liability if a judge if it's circuit court judge
rules in favor again. Well, I'm Sorry rules against the
city in this instance. What would be the liability that we
are subject to as a city?
Nnn second. Is there an argument that we're proceeding in
bad faith given the fact that the arbitrator they're
Seventeen decisions made prior to this one and giving them
pack of we've had an opportunity to look over those seasons
and read them. Is there an award of any type of punitive
damages because we're moving perhaps possibly in a bad
thing. So explain that to me in chairman. Think that'll be
all that I have.
Three questions, why is the likelihood of punitive damages
are bad faces extremely remote to the likelihood of
liability to the city of Chicago as a result of repealing
the award. I eat attorneys fees or anything else and
circuit court is equally remote 3, and lastly. I don't want
to underestimate or under appreciate or mislead you in any
way a challenge in the Circuit Court of Cook County to an
interest arbitrator decision is a steep hill to climb in
that would be a challenging legal proceeding for the city
of Chicago. But so could you say that part again? I thought
you would like that.
the challenge
to the arbitration award and we can go into this whatever
degree of detail you want that is a challenging decision.
Now having said that and I don't want this to be lost what
the chief labor negotiators consent descent emphasizes are
public policy arguments, which in our view are pretty
strong now whether or not they will resonate with a circuit
court judge, you have two kinds of lawyers one who is the
genius who would tell you that they would or two idiots who
would tell you that? They're not I like to think I'm
certainly not a genius and I don't pretend to be an idiot
show the challenge of Circuit Court. Yes. It's going to be
a significant. Do we have arguments that go far beyond the
bad face standard. I think the city does the consent decree
public policy with a long history.
Parents ate all those things. We talked about are not minor
considerations.
Kevin has this always been a part of the effort part of fop
contract or do you know it but now it's just been enacted
or this something that's new Cecily covered this.
For forty years or so provision or was a provision in the
contract still is a provision in the contract that says
that the long-term discipline and determination are the
exclusive jurisdiction of police Port. Okay, and that's
been in there and as you've read the award Section 8 says
every contract has to have a grievance and arbitration
procedure. No, if ands or buts about that. I'm the parties
agree. Otherwise now Union decided as they have every right
to do that. They do not agree. Otherwise, they want
arbitration but the chief labor negotiator plane that's not
where the discussion Adams there's also operational aspects
of that and there's the nature of how that
duration of the law is implemented.
So if you want me to go into more detail we can but I need
to stop here in any Chairman's looking at me, too. So if I
have any further questions before next Wednesday, I'll make
sure I reach out to miss this morning. Thank you Sherry.
One of them for me. I'm not a big fan of points
information, but don't go ahead. I trust this damned if I
met mr. Fronczak on.
What you just quoted about?
long-term decisions in that line isn't the can you recite
the first part of that line isn't the first part under the
Labor Act that there's something like you you must shall
through arbitration unless
I'm I'm botching up what I'm trying to say, but I believe
when I was listening to you and Cecily earlier you were
speaking to tell there's a provision in the Labor Act that
says I believe I shall arbitrate and then unless and then
it went through some of the things you were saying. I just
want to make sure I hear the sentence correctly provides
every collective bargaining agreement negotiated between an
employer in the union which applies to all employees in the
bargaining unit and she'll provide for finding and binding
interest of binding.
Arbitration of disputes. Thank you. Okay, I'm less the
parties mutually agree. Otherwise, all right. Thank you.
We'll go to the alderman deal.
Thank you. Mr. Chairman first. Let me say I was out of the
room but I think Alderman Taliaferro mention that I think
we should be with a question both sides on an issue of this
magnitude in a right now us not having the ability to hear
from the other side is I'm not I don't want in my opinion
is not a fair hearing because it's this hearing is
one-sided. So me saying that but I do have a couple of
quick questions in all of you are of years of negotiating
has a issue like this ever been separated like this.
question separated like this
I think for the council has taken an agreement where Ninjas
arbitration would I should say and voted on aspects of it
voted part of it up in another part. How does it happen
routinely know but it has happened. Well, I'm specifically
referring to with the Police contract in your recent
history has a question been separated when an arbitrator
has
Their decision to the city and then bought before the city
council has it been separated before and there's any
mention at the outset alderman the log clearly gives the
city council to write to ratify or not ratified reject the
terms of the collective bargaining agreement. So that means
it can pick and choose as to what terms that accepts or
rejects.
The format is being suggested to you today is to fold one
was to mediated part of his interest arbitration. Wish you
voted on a few minutes ago. And the second is the
arbitration for police board and discipline in the history
of the city of Chicago. There's only been one interest
arbitration and that goes back to 1993 where the city
council rejected partial terms of a collective bargaining
agreement. But having said that as noted for the last 40
years discipline case termination cases have been the
exclusive province of the police report. So this is unique
never come before the city council before I totally get
that but I'm just concerned about setting a president that
when a contract is brought before us and nobody in this
room negotiates contracts as far as this
The administration negotiates contracts with the unions and
then it is brought before us.
But I've never seen it to where we split the question
because we don't like something that's in it.
Okay, and so that's where I'm extremely troubled is that
you know, if I'm a reject something. Let me be at the table
to negotiate it.
Okay, but we're not in so we trust we try to trust the
administration to bring these things to us, but the bring
it to us and then separate the question because we don't
like one aspect of it I think is wrong.
There's always contracts of things within contracts that we
don't like.
You know, I mean, we all know there's things I would like
to put in it. There's things I would like to take out of
it. But we as a city council our job is to just right if
I'd okay, but I just think that if we are to reject
something, let me be at the table to negotiate it but
again, that would not end. So I think we whether we like it
or not. I think it's our job to go ahead and ratify this
contract and and move on whether you like it or not. And so
with that I want to renew the motion that all the lands he
has that that we moved to pass on this. Because I think
it'll cost us more money in the
Call Ron even if it goes back to the arbitrator because if
we reject this is going to go back to the arbitrator and
the same person that sent it to us is going to receive it
and they going to turn right around and said I told you.
This is my decision and it's going to come right back to
us. And then if we rejected at that point, then it goes to
the Circuit Court. So I think we're spinning our Wheels
with this. I think we're wasting a lot of time and effort
on this and again whether you like it or not, our job is to
ratify because again, we're not at the table. So with that
I renewed emotion from all the Minions to do pass on the
Yankees motion was do not pass and we're going to keep on
taking
Yeah.
Right, so we're going to move on and when to take more
questions as is our custom here. So all their Vasquez, go
ahead.
Thank you very much. And I greatly appreciate the fact that
we can have these conversation. I actually appreciate my
colleague automobiles point that whereas to ratify but
we're not necessarily sitting in on the negotiations and I
think it highlights a deficiency within our government
works here. We don't know going into these negotiations
with the goals are for the administration for us as a
council and I say that because I'm looking at the other
part of the contract which is voted on. It didn't
Enough accountability to see some of the goals that some of
our members do and so I agree with with my colleague that
there needs to be more open this and that conversation
itself because and if we were more informed I had a
negotiation to wait we might feel more informed as to vote
on it. I'll ask my first question and I have pardon. My
ignorance is the Arbiter an elected official know he is not
okay are the reason why I asked that is we are elected
officials were duly elected by our constituents to
represent their needs represent their priorities and
represent also have their funds are being spent and told me
think about these agreements. We are representative of
those constituents.
So I can One S will have order. Thank you. I'll Derman
Vasquez. We will respect the Elder. Thank you. I appreciate
but what I mean is they buy that is although I do respect
the role the Arbiter and the conversation and there might
be disagreement and what determinations are we as elected
officials have to wrap Arkansas represent our constituents
who have these concerns and some were talking about
separating the arbitration. It's because we have concerns
about that part now.
I I respect president Ken Zara's point that when you're
talking about unions and their abilities and and empowers
arbitration is a part of it as it is any other bargaining
agreement? I'm also want to respect Alderman Chico's point
that the CBD doesn't get the ability to strike if they have
disagreements. Those are a very fair points. How many when
you're looking at the Illinois State labor law I get why
the Santa is what it is. I think it needs to be a change in
the state law because there is a clear difference between
the CPD that fop on my correction fop and other unions
other unions don't have the right to kill or imprison
anyone. So we're talkin about
That's that's correct. When we're talking about when these
incidents occur, when we will not have that here all the
men had has the floor and I never expected to let me
correct the record. Yes. They also save lives Delta
protecting people that needed they also as part of their
Dewey are able to shoot to kill and imprison and detain.
Those are those are rights or or stash is not stay right
there a bility that that role has that see if he doesn't
have that any other Union that were talking about has so
there should be a distinction and what accountability looks
like when one has the ability to do so now because there
are difficult decisions that are made in very dangerous
circumstances that police after I sent you it is the most
dangerous profession in government, right?
You have to make the case and sometimes that becomes
challenging as well. We know the decisions are more nuanced
than they appear that when you listen to folks try to make
it more clear cut a black and white that it is imprecise
give you situations are that is why when we talked about
what Justice looks like a police board along with other
bodies are established to provide transparency and new one
in that decision making because the public deserves to know
why decisions were made and guess what? It's not always
going to be with people assume. It's not always going to be
an officer made a wrong call. Sometimes the officer made
the right call sometime during situations. None of us would
ever hope to be in and none of us would even want to be in
simulations to look at but it is fair to have an open
dialogue so that we understand that part as well and that's
not being shared. These conversations aren't being done
before a public body like the police board. That is a
challenge.
One of my predecessors here before Pat O'Connor was
Alderman Ivan Rittenberg who is Lieutenant a captain and a
commander. And when I first was elected, he came up to me
and had a conversation about COPD and he said, you know, I
wish that we would have a better understanding of what
officers do because their job is Justice when we talked
about the dresses, we want to see that is part of their
role right to protect and serve to help deliver just it and
so they should be a willingness to be equally open and
transparent when they were members of the force who
shouldn't be officers who
Where is the role in a bear's the position for everyone
else to risk their lives day in and day out and I think
part of the attention that we see is a Nobody calls it out
when it's one of the officers who shouldn't we to find out
through arbitration behind closed doors about officer
Robert Baker meeting with the meeting with the proud boys
being part of membership. We find out about Oath Keepers
and all the investigations that happen and in no point we
are officers saying, you know what that's right. He
shouldn't be an officer. He doesn't represent what we do
and he makes our lives more dangerous because people don't
trust us enough to give us information on investigations
happen. They don't call us when is emergency there's a lack
of trust and deficit because people should not be wearing
the bad or wearing it and no one here says that
And I think that's a concern I've got and I think maybe the
public. It's not because people love or hate the police.
It's because we know that their job is just so I'm we
demanded we demanded that the utmost ability by those whose
job it is to help deliver it and so we're asking about
arbitration and I apologize that I'm a little bit on the
soapbox here, but we when we brought up about Robert Baker
and ask what did he lie? You're not like they couldn't tell
us that really what you found out that he did it even
though he said he didn't so why was that found out the
representative see if he could not share any information to
the point that I had to ask is the reason you're not
sharing the information because you found it out during
arbitration. So you technically can't use it for anything.
That was the exact answer that the officer was lying the
officer admitted to lying but because it happened during
arbitration. He didn't suffer a penalty under rule 14 and
was able to get a lighter sentence because it was behind
closed doors. That's the problem.
The one we're talking about arbitration. I appreciate the
question because the president can Zara's point. We could
all be spinning our Wheels going back and forth in the
court systems making it difficult for everyone. So I had
the fop agreed with the city and said, you know what we
want of arbitration but we can have public arbitration.
We're going to make sure everybody sees all these
conversations go because we wanted me to have arbitration
but we understand the need for actual transparency and
justice, but that was not the case. And so now we're the
position. We were forced to make a decision that we wish we
would have been more conversation in negotiation, but we're
never brought in on that discussion and that is part of the
challenge. So I do respect it either difficult decision,
but based on the information we have is why we're Landing
where we are in some of this stuff. And so I respectfully
understand the role we have officers again doing the job.
What do you want to say folks love or hate the police out
of this Council every single one of us cause our commanders
every single one of us reaches out. They let us know what
incidents occur.
We care for those commanders because the work they do we
have folks were leaving and 24 + 22. + and thankfully we
have new phones coming in but we feel a loss as a community
because we know what wrist are being taken by your
officers. But what I would love to see it for the same
officers who fight and protect and want to see Justice to
call out and Justice in their own there's officers. You
shouldn't be there. There's a small percentage of those are
coming for the police board. And those are the ones they're
looking to get removed for 365 days or permanent. So I
guess my first question what percentage of the police
department actually comes up before the police board for
these for these hearings how many of them actually have get
called up because they want to be there due to be suspended
for 365 days or more. Is anyone have the date on that?
Alderman we went over this in terms of the proceedings
before the arbitrator this the police board produces an
annual report with its statistics what we found out we went
back to the last 5 6 7 years, I believe and an annual basis
depending upon the year through a separation cases anywhere
from 16 to 25 separation cases filed department-wide each
year 16 225 60 thousands of officers. So it's a very small
margin that we're talking about. Right? It's a very small
percentage and yet sometimes a small margin others be two
hundred million dollars worth of MS.
Escada sentiment every single year every single year. These
are officers. That should not be officers are part of the
foremost. I appreciate the line that you have. You want me
to wrap it up. But yes, they do not pass cuz it's clear.
It's a mistake and if you want to have real Justice all the
good officers to do the good work and the fop partner upon
having a public arbitration process is your cousin gutting
the police bored to the point of nonexistence, which isn't
open government and isn't good government. Thank you very
much.
Alma Curtis
Thank you Sam. I just have one thing that's troubling me
doing the negotiations about the Albert's Papa tration. It
was stated fop Mason suggestion that wasn't considered
those suggestions may have been valid. So is it anyway that
we you could share those suggestion that they had that
wasn't considered?
I don't know where to start with this aldermont. There was a
considerable amount of back and forth and trying to capture
Snippets of that conversation that we had does injustice to
the amount of time in the depths that we want into this
issue the union made some suggestions with regard to the
number folks to could come to an arbitration with regard to
the conditions that those folks would have IE recording
those proceedings excetera. We made suggestions with regard
to bifurcating the process. I knew you would have a place
for it and then appeal that to arbitration. We also talked
about training the arbitrator's in the back. So we want
into this.
And we like to think a great deal upset at the end of the
day for many of the reasons that have been discussed here
the bargaining team in consultation with the administration
consultation with others did not come to a point in the
negotiations that we felt comfortable bringing back a
recommendation to you on that and it's literally impossible
to go back through with the very considerable discussions
and try to recite those back to you with any degree of
accuracy and I apologize for that other than to give you
sort of the four.
2000 ft View
are because it seemed like they would have leaned a little
bit but you know, it wasn't I it would be a
misrepresentation to say that the union did not engage in
conversations about this they did and the arbitrator and
Gage and immediate or effort on this. He did and the city
engaged in trying to come to a resolution on this we did
and I go back and underscore the first part of this
agreement that you and doors dad had 22 separate pieces to
it with multiple subcategories to it. It was an enormously
complex and we ended up getting a mediated and agreed to
agreements. So wasn't like the parties were beyond the
ability.
To reach agreement even on some very hard issues we were
but it but on this one we just were unable to get over that
hump.
Sa furniture and thank thank you. Thank you all and Curtis
always appreciate property manage my heart. I live in
Masada.
Thank you chairman. I thought we were doing pretty good
over here. But somehow someway we went off the rails. So
Jim, can I just call you Jim? Cuz I consider you a friend
though. I know you I know you mentioned honor and a
pleasure to deal with your ra your group over there while I
just want to let you know there might well be happy or the
little dealings I had with you. It's been an honor and a
pleasure for me. I know of you before I came into office.
You you had a stellar reputation with obviously the fire
department and a mentor and friend of mine. Dan Fabrizio
always spoke so highly in an admiral of you and I can't
begin to tell you what you do with the local to thought of
you. So I just want just want to let you know that I know
you already know that all right, what's up someday? We'll
go out for dinner on me. So I like guys won't have to
worry. He's not going to take me out and spent over $50 on
me. We don't we know somebody's listening over her.
Tell Jimmy you said and I'm not sure and I'm just basically
making comments the chairman. So I don't know what I'm
asking for any answers at this point yet, but I'm asking
for an answer from somebody like I shall ask for it. I feel
and my proud high school diploma that I think if an
arbitrator rules on something, I don't think we have much
of a choice other than to accept it whether you agree with
it or not. I think we're asking for trouble. I believe I
know you said you don't think about being a financial Upon
Us gym, but you certainly did mention. It's a steep hill to
climb which I would agree with John that I I don't know how
Is it going to go back to arbitrator Ben and he going to
say? Oh, you're right. You're right City. I did make a
mistake. We're going to change things around. So I find
that hard to believe.
I also thought you know, you all break about how pro-labor
we are over here. But once again, we're pro-labor unless it
comes to the fop so I don't get that. I mean, you know
their Labour group that it is literally hated by some
people in this Council that all but certainly some
certainly hate them. I hate the car. They drive to hate the
shoes. They where they hid their dog you name it. I don't
understand that. So getting to the police board hearings
that I made a few notes here and I guess I'm not really
looking for any I guess it's more comments chairman. So I
guess nobody really has to respond week. We've had some
good things brought up from automobile 12 and a half years.
We've been working together and one or more were seeming
like we're in line together buddy. I appreciate ya. So who
would have thought you know, I'm so sucks. A lot of stuff
was answered for me how you guys obviously know it's no
surprise anybody. I support the arbitrator's ruling. I
think it's the right thing to do here regardless of how you
feel about the police or whatever.
Once again ever trade her for a reason if if the chairman
of meat can agree about something and we decide to go to an
arbitrator to make a decision between us that should be
buying and that's just my opinion. But just to give you
give give you a little bit of context about something. I
don't know what it means anybody, but I'm just throwing
some stuff out there and maybe I'm wrong.
Maybe I'm right. You could look it up. I don't know since
covid-19. It's my it's my understanding that the police
sport cases have been held by way of Zeeland open public
meetings, which I'm fine with his own thing, but they're
not open to the public the only access to the general
public is to listen so you can listen to see what's going
on or the person listening can't see the evidence. They
can't see the videos or witness testify recent hearing the
fop requested that an elected member of the fop be allowed
on his own to watch the hearing that would request was
denied and required a letter from The General Counsel for
the fop demanding access to police board allowed remember
to watch however, no members of the public were allowed in
on his own. So we're looking for a transparency is a
complaint to arbitration. Why is it why is it not open in
the zone?
We have no idea who writes these opinions is my
understanding. So what law firms are paid to do this how to
deliberation works the police barge in that hand. Do not
attend hearings, but rather if you will review video what
we have no idea how to even watch her complete the hearings
the members of the police board have no practical
experience in policing everybody just to get that
understanding we know how they got there the mirror Point
some and we approve them. We have a right to turn them down
or to accept them meet my personal opinion for all my ears.
There's only been one time that I rejected.
Simon from America. We all know who that is, but whoever the
mayor wants. I always I always approve I'm selling it. What
are they are so they have no practical experience in
policing. So if it's a if we want to pull a doctor's
medical license, we wouldn't put them before a board of
realtors. No offense to my realtor friends. The members are
chosen by Tamara. Like I said, once again with no input
from the fop or us even defendants in Criminal Court can
have a voice in the jury that the that will be seated in
there.
And lastly the end result of this arbitrator's ruling is
that it's not an end to the police board. Okay. We are
simply on that. We are simply asking the arbitrator simply
saying that you have a choice between arbitration or the
police board. So she was me. I'm sorry.
Whatever. Okay, so that's about it. I'm guessing many
officers will choose the police toward but you know some
may look for an arbitrator and that's it. Just try to keep
it short and brief and bring some levity to the situation
after we went off. The rails are a little bit. So thank you
Karen. Thank you all the months for Sato alderman
ramirez-rosa.
I think you so much scherrman. I would like to begin by
thanking Anjanette young or providing public testimony
today and for continuing to speak up for reminding this
Council and the city that we must desperately do more to
address police misconduct. We must not and cannot forget.
The Chicago is the city of John Birch equipped officer
involved in at least 118 cases of torture and forced
confessions 118 victims of his crimes. We are the city of
detective Guevara likely involved in 70 plus cases of false
conviction. So many of them in my community just the other
day. I was visiting a shelter in my ward where they provide
both shelter and resources to migrants and returning
citizens.
And one of the individuals working there was a victim of
torture and a false conviction.
His case will soon be coming before this Council to be
settled.
We are City with an ugly past and an ugly present of police
misconduct.
but we are the city of leaders like engineering young and
Frank Chapman. And so many more we are city of survivors of
police crimes were fighting to change this system for the
benefit of all of us because of their efforts in so many
more Chicago has made extraordinary progress over the last
few years in addressing police misconduct. We saw the
creation of the civilian office of police accountability
and most recently we created the community commission for
Public Safety and accountability.
We made these important changes for good reason in 2017 the
US Department of Justice found the Chicago Police
Department was broadly and effective at detecting or
dressing police misconduct within police ranks.
And that is why we must reject arbitration police
misconduct is call Chicago taxpayers over seven hundred and
ten million dollars in legal settlement since 2011 and will
cost us more and more in the coming years as more of our
cases and other cases of police misconduct are settled.
Every single study that has looked at the issue of police
misconduct and what are the best ways that cities can
address it has pointed to civilian oversight as key as
critical. It is more important than police training.
It is what is required in order to ensure that police
officers do the right thing when they're on the job and it
is so critically important that police officers do the
right thing when they're on their job because when they do
the wrong thing it cost people their lives is strip some of
the rights that can strip them of their dignity and as
we've seen here in the city of Chicago, it has cost us over
seven hundred and ten million dollars since 2011. So people
want to talk about the cost.
associated with the rejection of the arbitrator's award
We will pay so much more if we got our City's efforts
towards civilian oversight.
So I really hope that is my colleague vote today. And as we
voting Council on December 13th that we remember laquan
McDonald.
That we remember rekia Boyd that we remember everyone that
cannot be here with us today.
We have a responsibility to every single Chicago and to
ensure that they are safe.
And in order for us to restore trust between police and
communities we need to defend and continue to advance our
efforts for civilian oversight of the Chicago police
sirens. My colleagues to reject arbitration. Thank you.
Alderman Napolitano
a Chevrolet opportunity to speak
I want to lean towards what my I consider my good friend
and colleague Aldrin Vasquez. I think we're kind of become
counter point Counterpoint colleagues, but we get along
great. And yeah, we're brothers Brothers just wanted from
others, but you know, what it what I want to bring up his
is when we're talking about this mention egregious offenses
that are committed in in in
The loss of lives and in what is costing our city, we always
fail to mention that won't work in a police contract here
that we're going to please contract in the last 7 years. We
had 25,000 people shot in the city. I wish that was the
victim you were talking about. I wish those were the
victims that were speaking for in here. I wish we were
speaking for the 4700 people murdered in the city in the
last 7 years. I wish we were speaking for those victims. I
were as we were speaking for the hundreds of millions of
dollars a first responder and city services that are put
into 25,000 people shot in seven years and 4,700 people
murdered. I wish that was the topic but we're going to go
after the .07 percent of police shootings. Not the 25000
25000 recorded people shot.
I begged that.
That we start going and turning the crowd here and saying
how about some civilian accountability. You're not going to
do it.
Build your votes not going to ask for civilian
accountability.
Stop shooting each other now, we're not going to do it. But
instead we're going to go after the police here, but we've
diminished their budget going after their budgets for
agenda purposes.
We're going to demonize Danforth people not to take this
job or not force them. Ask them not to take this job. We're
going to make them the enemy cuz it's easier down here. You
want to get that budget use it somewhere else, right?
It is hard to sit here as a former police officer and hear
this.
I wish we were fighting for those because I wish we were
quite full of 25,000 people shot and 7 years, but we're not
you're not you don't care.
Let me ask you a question. Mr. Franczyk, please is it safe
to say by what you've mentioned if it were at we hit the
strike three or straight to caused by this contract that
sent back for a second time and the arbitrator did noises
in your I'm sorry. The arbitrator says we're sticking with
what we got here. And in your vast knowledge of of contract
negotiations, you said it's just up the hill battle for the
city took to win. That is that that's correct in in in
layman's terms Direct on that if the city council wife's to
reject Aida 60% excetra goes back to the arbitrator if
Arbitrators award he is pretty clearly disinclined to
reverse it. However, that does not mean we couldn't
continue to have conversations with the fop and try to come
to some accommodation.
With regard to the issues that the city council is raised
if it goes back to the arbitrator comes back again to the
city council and the city council says you had a gun and
it's going to reject then we go into court the standards
for reversing an arbitrator are very high and they're very
challenging but we do have a consent decree and we do have
public policy arguments that frankly have not been made in
this context before so the long and the short of it is yes.
It is a steep hill to climb but it's not an impossible.
He'll is that possible to see fill it will cost the city
money attorney fees. It's like in the last nine years here
every time I go to a briefing and we're told that this is a
a a case that's come before us. We're always told that it's
going to hurt us more in the long run if we tried a trident
in in court, so
We should all be voting for it. That's what you're all told
to do in here instead of looking into some of these cases.
So I think that applies of this as well get it all so
happened that if this is the process take besides if I'm
sorry besides fop take this to Civic Court as well. You'd
have to ask the fop that question answers. Yes, they can
and they will and that's going to cost the city of Chicago
a lot more money because now they're going to go after a
lot more than what we were trying to settle in this
contract later. So in the in the spirit of always being
told I think the words always used down here pay for it out
of your own pocket. If you're not going to settle this or
ratify this pay for it out of your own pocket, that's use
numerous times down here think that applies to this right
now because if we don't do this it's going to come back to
cost to see a lot of money in the end another quick
question and it might my my child legal for a police
officer as well as all the men. She could have brought up
that
Arbitration has been given to police and fire in because we
don't have the right to strike anymore. That that's
correct, right, correct. Now if we're talking about with
this police's plea sport issue an interest arbitration,
which is setting the terms of a collective bargaining
agreement.
Did this ever be considered, you know if we're going against
arbitration here or for working and I'm pushing it back
towards arbitration can that be considered a breach of a
verbal or a written collective bargaining agreement for
police and fire contained now start the strike?
No.
period.
One of the questions that was brought up as a disses for
more Force us this week.
You spoke about an agreement. That was brought up in phase
one with the with the accountability issues. Was that
something that's you guys talked with with fop and agreed
upon and work through with fop and they agree to part with
this is Colonel ministration agreement. It was a result
yet. It was an agreement negotiated agreement that we
presented to council and ratify. Yes. So in many cases were
you are working and in the right direction with fop, we are
figuring out right I said there was one issue that we did
not agree upon the first package. I was voted on by the
council for recommendation consisted of a lot of agreement
that we reach for that filthy. So, yes, we work with them
and we did reach agreement. There was one place where we
could not in that was where the arbitrator ordered this.
In the spirit of of negotiations to didn't the Union at
that offer to allow arbitration decisions for termination
to be toasted but posted on CityLink after all the appeal
an appeal window has closed and in order to show more
transparency of what's actually going on. Is that correct?
I don't recall that I'm not saying he did or didn't but I
don't recall that that being part of The Proposal. So what
I'm trying to get it is I think there's a lot of
negotiation going on with this and it's gone back and forth
for years now and as we constantly stay down here if we're
going to hurt ourselves by voting against system cost the
city more money if we're strong Stewart's of the city in in
tax dollars. We've already lost a couple hundred thousand
dollars if not millions of dollars in decisions that have
just recently been made by the city of Chicago cuz we
haven't thought through it are our actions properly. I
think that's going to apply here as well. This is going to
hurt the city to vote against this more than is going to
help them or help in a genda agenda movement. I believe we
should vote in favor this and I think we should get this
done order, please.
Order, please.
Continue Pizza. I'm hoping that
We All Fall on the same page here to get this done and to
vote for this I'm also hope that after this contract is
done we put a lot more effort into the the villains of the
city that if that are killing people on our street non-stop
every single day getting worse every single day I hope
that's where our our our strength and our efforts do,
because of percentages here between the the the bad guys
and girls on the street and I Chicago Police Department is
incredibly different the demonization has got to stop got
to stop in this in this Council. Thank you hun. It's bars.
Yes, I just want to start by saying that is very shameful.
Just shameful that Fraternal Order of Police fop was
excluded from serving on the panel to answer questions from
Alderman. This is especially after they were told that they
can speak. This is very one-sided and it's a slap to the
face to the police officers and organized labor. I'm going
to move on to my questioning because we've had discussions
about the Illinois public Labor Relations Act. I know they
had some discussions, but I have a few questions because
this is the Workforce Development Committee and its tasks.
with considering matters regarding public sector unions
for the record, isn't it? True that section 8 of the
Illinois public or Labor Relations Act requires arbitration
to be a term in collective bargaining agreements covering
police officers.
Yes, unless the parties agree otherwise.
And isn't it the case that section to all the Illinois
public Labor Relations Act ensure that police officers are
entitled to interest arbitration as a given as a right
given in lieu of the fact that they are prohibited from
striking and doesn't section 15 of the Labor Relations. Act
made clear that this law shall supersede any other laws or
local ordinances that deny or limit these employees right
to arbitration?
Yeah.
The question of arbitration for police is not a matter of
granting a new Avenue two police officers. It is about
correcting a wrong based on the fact Chicago has been using
a disciplinary process for police officers for years in
violation of state law. The law is clear when the city of
Chicago created a Chicago Police board it did.
In violation of the Illinois Public Relations Act section
15th and Page 4 of the interest arbitration award could not
make it any clearer.
Every police officer who had had his or her career impacted
by a decision by the Chicago Police board has been
subjected to an illegal process set up by the city to
impede their rights as a worker just because he or she is a
police officer firefighters are not brought before an
illegal board laborers are not brought before an illegal
board only police officers. I understand that some have
expressed concerns over issues of transparency regarding
the arbitration process. I would love to see the same
individuals make speeches and protest for more transparency
regarding the names of the 470 sexual assault complaints
made against Chicago Public School Employees.
Because the fact of the matter is there is a double
standard here and the process we had in the city regarding
police discipline is not the product of well-intentioned
public servants. It is the product of political pandering
witch-hunts and scapegoating and let's be clear if an R.
Sisters accused of something you legal he or she would be
subjected to criminal proceedings like any other individual
mugshot and all.
We are talking about the mob demanding names and addresses
of police officers accused of department infractions, so
they can know where they live know where they work and know
where their children go to school.
As we gear up to host the Democratic Convention, I ordered
my colleagues to adopt this measure and stop the practice
of running in a legal process that tramples on the due
process of these members of organized labor because each
day we continue with the current illegal process. We can
never call ourselves as City that protects workers rights,
but actually tramples on those right to score political
points.
I just want to finally stay that all other union jobs in
this city can already go before an arbitrator. All this
does is treat police officers, like everybody else. You
cannot be against this agreement and call yourself
pro-union. Every Alderman opposed to this is showing their
true bias. Anti-police colors is it?
Pain that so many who claim to be pro-labor decided to voice
opposition to this agreement. It also sends a message to
other Union that you cannot trust the city of Chicago to be
negotiating in good faith when the mayor opposes his own
deal. Thank you.
I was short round to the Alderman's Posada since he said it
be 10 seconds and I only took like two minutes before so
many ways and a half but I'll stick to my word. All right,
so I actually that's half of my notes and I forgot I was on
here. Everybody wants to know what it's like to be a police
officer every one of you every one of you and I'll be
reaching out to you. I don't feel you have before should
take the shoot. Don't shoot class. Do I understand? What a
police officer goes through everyday? And with that I
forgot to mention I would like a roll call vote on his
German. I'll before we go there other womanly.
Thank you chairman. I apologize that I had to step out a
little bit earlier. So apologies ahead of time if any of
this is redundant, but you know, I'm not a member of this
committee. So I'm a non-voting member today. But ultimately
I know that we're all going to have to take a boat on us
and it's not something smaller to be taken lightly. I think
we can all agree that Public Safety is our biggest issue in
this city and trust between the police and the community
has been eroded in both directions. I'm sitting here
listening to everybody,
Lack of transparency. I believe has been a part of that and
you don't know how we get to the right resolution to this.
So my line of questioning really is a couple things here.
Scroll down here. What effort is any have been made to get
back to the table with fop to get in agreement on this
issue?
I ask this because I know you know my read on this is that
we're being asked to reject we're being asked to reject
what's been what's on the table so that we can get back to
a conversation. I don't know what stops us from being able
to continue a conversation about getting to a place. That's
more mutually agreeable as there is enough answers know
nothing has happened. That's perfectly well. Now that would
be an accurate and and just to put it into context and and
I'm sure you will appreciate this.
The union of the city reached agreement on literally scores
probably over 100.
Different issues that were part of the mediated agreement
and we reached agreement back in 2021 on the accountability
in the wages. So the record before you was one of enormous
time and effort has been spent to reach agreement
stretching over six and a half years as the chief labor.
Negotiator said the only issue and by Shane only I don't
mean to diminish at it's obviously important that we did
not reach agreement on with this but it would be misleading
to say that there wasn't a considerable amount of
conversation Exchange.
We wanted to resolve with the fact of the matter is that we
were unable to appreciate how long it took to get any part
of this complete and how long are definitely appreciated my
time here.
I know that arbitrator Ben has indicated that the effective
date of this contract and this ruling would be the same day
of his start as a nimbus as an interest arbitrator. What
impact will this have on cases heard under the old rules.
If a ultimately the arbitration ism is upheld my question
being so if we if we
Put this down and we have to go back. But the rest of the
contract is moving forward. I'm assuming that police
officers are subject to the current rules where the police
board would review their cases. I'm wondering if any of
those cases ultimately can like what the state of those
cases would be if they're subject to review and reversal by
the arbitrator ultimately.
Alderman the answer that question is is less than clear to
us. I mean it's one thing if for example separation charges
were filed against officer Johnson and you know when
they're done some preliminary proceedings may be your first
day of hearing and then if this award is made effective
then at that point print with with the permission of the
lodge, I can switch over to an arbitration mode. That's one
thing that's that's a possibility if I went through the
entire police board processed through the hearing process
before the hearing officer hearing officer filed his or her
report police board voted on it might be one that is that
that you could not go back on that but in all honesty
Alderman has been less than clear on the specific
ramifications for the specific application of the principle
in his award.
I think that's also part of it the challenge and all of this
is well, you know, I don't know where I am on this have no
more clear on this today than I was sort of coming into
this. I certainly believe that we need transparency. I
certainly believe that you do as a as a labor organization
hosts have the right to arbitration Echo some of both sides
of the arguments that have been made here today, you know,
I had to step out for a legal brief a settlement or so.
We're dealing with all of this real-time. I think we have
to be responsible with how we ultimately make decisions
that will have an impact on the bottom line of the city
that has to be balanced against people in the city as well.
And where there's Justice for those who have that coming
for all victims of crimes whether whether or not you are as
someone who got robbed on the street or if you were subject
Do you know a police shooting that was unjustified? So, you
know, I may have more questions. I'll Reserve that for
later on. I know who to reach out to should I have more
questions likely in the coming days, but I appreciate that.
Everybody was here tonight. I will stay up. I would have
appreciated the opportunity to have the fop answer some
questions as well. Thank you. And you all are only at this
point. I will recognize Alderman Yancey's motion.
I was just curious, you know, the distinguish Alderman Lee
mentioned that we are being asked to vote this down. Is
there anybody in particular but it told us to vote this
down.
Okay, so we have a motion on the floor all that's the
question I ask a question. Okay. Yeah, you ask a question
to the alderman of the ward alderman Rosa Ramirez Rosa.
It was a question asked if we were asked by anyone to
reject the arbitrator's award and in the packet provided by
the workforce committee, you will see a letter from various
groups including color of change Southside with you also
see a letter signed by 41 District recognize Alderman
Ramirez Russell. Thank you so much. You also find a letter
in the package signed by 41 members of the police district
council's that's the vast majority of our Police District
councillors. He's our people left in our communities to
represent Community voice when it comes to policing issues.
We also have a letter from the lgbtq organizations
equality, Illinois urging us to reject the arbitrator's
award. So yes, we have heard from many people we've heard
from
Rights groups with her for black LED groups. We have heard
from people directly employ impacted by police misconduct
and police crimes a lot of people including our mayor
including our legal counsel are asking us to reject the
arbitrator's award. Thank you back to you all the review
sir.
Oh now you want to get back to me.
Anything further, sir?
And ultimately ask my question.
You wish answer.
Wheat gluten sitting here listening to an argument about
why we should reject why we should reject that the ruling
right now and there's and letters and I've gotten Outreach
from constituents. I think there's been more public
pressure and a call for rejection.
Thank you so much all the manly thank you. All during bill.
I will now recognize Alderman Yancey's motion. Do not pass
recommendation for the committee on Workforce Development
report at the next city council meeting. I also heard a
roll call vote and we will now conduct at roll call vote
Bank.
Okay, there is a motion to lay on the table that I believe
supersedes the roll-call vote. So a motion to lay Alderman
Yancey's motion. Do not pass it. I do see that as an order
so we will have a Voice vote on that.
You want a real couple very good. We will rock on go down
there.
Alderman Beale has a motion to lay on the table Alderman
Yancey's motion a yes vote to Alderman bill will not allow
us have a boat today. Would you?
Alderman Yancey's motion is to
do not pass on this item. You are saying you don't want a
boat on his motion by laying on the table a motion on the
table there for we can come after that way motion to back
to pass but I would be your intention but the formal
Robert's Rules of Order what you're asking for essentially.
It's a late his motion table. That's that's cute everybody
any questions.
All any questions on Vasquez Alderman Yankees motion is
Nolan and will you're asking if they've been both?
I know nothing.
No, no forgive me Alderman Beales motion is a good motion.
That's and we need to pick it up. So we will have to take
it up. We will do a roll call vote on Alderman Beales lay
on the table Alderman Yancey, I'm assuming you are a no.
Okay. Are there any answers are no other Munhall to know
all the repeal of the Yes album in Chico is he? Yes
alderwoman Ramirez is a no altering Quinn is a yes all the
person with the address. No altering. Coleman is an 00
Altima Curtis is a yes share Rodriguez is a no Alderman,
Taliaferro.
Is a no Alderman ramirez-rosa is a no Alderman's pesado.
I think you're yes all the person that asked us.
Is a No Other Woman clay?
Is a no by my precise calculations?
There are 10 nose.
In five years Alderman Beales motion to lay on the table
fails. We will now take up Alderman Yancey's motion. Do not
pass recommendation.
And the question Alderman Yancey.
Yes, Alderman Hall is a yes. I'll reveal all the reviews in
no Alderman Chico oven Chico is a know all the woman from
The Other Woman i m is a yes Alderman Quinn Alderman Quinn
is a no other person with the address is a yes Alderman
Coleman and Coleman is it? Yes Alderman Curtis, Curtis is a
no chair is a yes Alderman Taliaferro Arthur Taliaferro is
a yes Alderman. I m Rosa Ortman drive me to srasa is a yes
Alderman's pesado.
Thank you all his muscles and no other person Vasquez.
Other in person other person baskets is a yes although
Maclay.
All the women Clay is a yes.
The yeas have it at 10 the knees are 5.
I report item for the agenda as a do not pass recommendation
at the next city council meeting on Wednesday, December
13th.
With there being no further business before the committee
or forgive me. I did get her a request from alderperson
Vasquez to be recorded as a no on item number 3 today
without any objections. I will issue that so ordered
Very good remedies Rosa before we adjourn Mr. Chair. I
would just like the record to reflect that the committee
would like to wish Alderman Quinn a very happy birthday.
Happy birthday.
21st we're not going to sing Happy Birthday. Sorry that's
in the back.
All right, no other birthdays with there being no further
business before the committee.
May I hear a motion to adjourn? So mobile Alvin Vasquez
hearing no objections. So ordered the meaning of committee
on Workforce Development is now adjourned.