(Calexico, CA) – Calexico Municipal Employees, who are represented by Service Employees International Union Local 221, filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge today with the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB). The union contends that the City of Calexico is trying to circumvent the bargaining process by using a recent declaration of a State of Emergency as a way to implement furlough days on employees. During contract negotiations the city’s budget numbers kept changing and they never presented a clear budget overview. In fact, the city has known since the beginning of contract bargaining in February 2010 that they have a budget deficit.

In the course of a week’s time, the City of Calexico presented contract proposals outlining takeaways from the salary or benefits of employees in order to balance the budget. These proposals varied from 15% to 5%, with little explanation as to how those percentages were determined. The city finally settled on a 10% takeaway, including 26 furlough days for employees, which was approved by city council.

“Calexico City Council needs to stop the budget shenanigans,” Eric Banks, Interim President of SEIU Local 221 said. “The budget numbers have continuously changed since bargaining began. It’s time for an independent budget analysis to determine the real budget picture, because we’re not getting straight answers from the city. Because of what’s been happening, the hard working men and women of Calexico are the ones who suffer.”