Athens City Council adopted a controversial ordinance yesterday authorizing a three-year agreement with the AFL-CIO and a local union to give union members an annual pay raise of 4 percent. Councilman Jim Sands, D-at large, said the agreement was a standard contract with the AFL-CIO and the local American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, which has fewer than 50 members. However, it caused a stir among council members because of a wording change to the original proposal. Through the contract, union members would have the opportunity to contribute to the union's political action committee through a voluntary payroll deduction.Some elected officials were upset that the word voluntary was added as an amendment to the ordinance. Sands, councilwoman Carol Patterson. D-at large, and mayor Ric Abel said they were not opposed to the idea of the voluntary deduction but disagreed with the fact that City Council renegotiated an agreement that a negotiation committee already had addressed. This is one of the dumbest pieces of legislation I've ever heard
Abel said. He also said negotiation so far along in the process ruins the reputation of city council by diminishing the trust between council and the negotiating team. Abel said he fully plans to veto the ordinance.In other news: G 17
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Dianne Selden
