Good-faith bargaining generally refers to the duty of the parties to meet and negotiate at reasonable times with willingness to reach agreement on matters within the scope of representation; however, neither party is required to make a concession or agree to any proposal.
Good faith bargaining requires employers and unions involved in collective bargaining to:
• use their best endeavors to agree to an effective bargaining process
• meet and consider and respond to proposals made by each other
• respect the role of the other’s representative by not seeking to bargain directly with those for whom the representative acts
• Not do anything to undermine the bargaining process or the authority of the other’s representative.
To Whom It May Concern:
The City of Pensacola employees (AFSCME Local 3253) worked alongside Mayor Ashton Hayward III and his representatives. Both should be credited for their efforts and due diligence in coming together to reach an agreement, “Bargaining in good faithâ€. Given the mayors decision to move towards repealing the Civil Service Act now more than ever city employees will benefit from the partnerships between labor & management and what it can offer.
It is our first contract with the city of Pensacola, I am very proud of the people whom made it happen from our Chief Negotiator Alma Gonzalez and the negotiation team; friends and family that supported us and sacrificed throughout the long journey; President Jeanette Wynn AFSCME Council 79 believing in us from the start; and the many countless volunteers & our fellow AFSCME/AFL CIO brothers and sisters here in Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, the US and International all of whom were there from the beginning and through almost 2 years in order to bring us to this turning point in our city’s history and now moving us into the future.
It is a “win win†all the way around because we (AFSCME Local 3253) through our negotiation process effectively helped all city employees receive the bonus that was truly deserved which in turn lifted morale. All workers here in the city of Pensacola and in this country; classified, unclassified, public, private, working, and retired are deserving of an environment and culture that promotes dignity and respect, that is what we strive for and today is one step in the right direction.
I am humbled and grateful to have been a small part in this movement; I thank you.
Solidarity – Peace
Kimberly Aguiar, President Local 3253