Union Rejects Mayor's Request for Fiscal Year Concessions

Citing rejection of concessions offered to the city during the budget-making process last year, Local 6092, The Middletown Managers and Professional Association, has rejected a request by the city to concede to wage and step deferments in the coming fiscal year (see letter below).

Mayor Sebastian Giuliano made the request in a letter dated December 9, 2009, in which he cited a projected shortfall of $1.5 million in collected taxes due to the loss of Aetna as a taxpayer in March 2010, and delinquencies because of economic hard times.

The mayor requested a hard freeze for fiscal year 2010-2011, with a deferment of the increasese, and an extension of the contract by one year.

The union rejected the request based on the perception that previous concessions had been offered and rejected.

According to a letter from union president John Milardo:

MMPA is not of the mindset to continue offering concessions to the City on a yearly basis, and then having them thrown back in our face, as the Democratic Council members did last year. The Common Council was made aware last year, that if they stayed the same course with their budget proposals, they would have a $5 million dollar deficit to contend with for the upcoming year. They did not heed our warning, and now have the City of Middletown in the worst economic deficit I can recall.