Equality Advocates in
a Catch-22: City Charter Propositions 6, 7, and 8 - Non-Discrimination
Amendment or Anti-Municipal Employee Amendments
Domestic partner benefits are not in jeopardy --
but workers rights are
by Ike and Ben
Recently a “newspaper reporter”
tried to scuttle the campaigns of some mayoral candidates by misrepresenting
their position on 1 of 7 amendments in Proposition 7 on behalf of Steve Ortega
and some financial interests who are funding him allegedly.
The “reporter” then
attempted to portray Steve Ortega as the lone ranger of civil rights riding in
on his Glass Beach
horse (Bill Sanders) to save benefits for domestic partners in El Paso
Fortunately these mayoral candidates have previously stated
publicly they are against all 9 Propositions because of the questionable ballot
format.
- The
ballot language does not reflect the actual language of the Charter
changes so voters do not know what changes they are actually voting on or
the resulting Charter language and
- The
voters should have been given the ability to approve or disapprove each
amendment without having to approve or disapprove all amendments.
Currently there is no organize effort against benefits for domestic partners and what effort there is, it is severely demoralized and in debt. What the “reporter” failed to report is that domestic
partner benefits are not in jeopardy -- but workers rights are.
There is an organize effort by the City Manger Joyce Wilson and the cabal to take rights away from municipal employees. Several of the proposed amendments are very anti-worker.
Propositions 6, 7,
and 8 are Anti-Municipal Employee
Propositions
Proposition 7 reduces civil services
jobs. The amendment greatly increases who City Manager Joyce Wilson hires
without having applicants go through a competitive process.
The amendment
allows for the privatization of city jobs by allowing the City Manager to
replace certain civil service positions with outside contractors.
Worker advocates have seen this privatization tactic being implemented
all over the city. Proposition 7 along with Propositions 6 and 8 look like minor changes
-- but they are not.
All
three have a significant impact on city employees. They shift more power to the
City Manager with regard to city employees especially in regard to discipline
and termination.
Machiavellian Tactic
Proposition
7 may be a “red herring”. If it fails it
seems Proposition 8 makes the desired changes with regard to disciplinary
action and termination of city employees.
Proposition
6 changes Civil Service Commission powers to reduce disciplinary action and
re-hear cases.
The city manager and he cronies are hoping people are focused on LGBT rights -- and not changes that impact all employees.
The city is very sly. They slip in a non-discrimination
clause hoping that will get voters attention while at the same time voters ignore the
anti-municipal workers clauses within these three propositions.
Equality Advocates in
a Catch-22
This all leaves equality and human rights advocates in a Catch-22. Support
non-discrimination, but screw workers over, or advocate for workers and not support
non-discrimination.
But again, by voting against Prop. 7, it does not endanger the fact that domestic partners already have benefits by vote of the city council. The real danger is to municipal workers.
The city manager and her cohorts should be ashamed of themselves for putting these together in one proposition.
But again, by voting against Prop. 7, it does not endanger the fact that domestic partners already have benefits by vote of the city council. The real danger is to municipal workers.
The city manager and her cohorts should be ashamed of themselves for putting these together in one proposition.
Protect the integrity
of El Paso
