Union packs City Hall
Collective bargaining brings mine workers to Gallup meeting

By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — City Council chambers were unusually packed for the short council meeting last night. The concern that drew the crowd was the status of collective bargaining agreements.

Last month, the city recognized an error it had made when it passed an ordinance in 2003 governing collective bargaining agreements. The New Mexico State Public Employee Bargaining Act requires such laws to be given approval by the state’s labor board. The city somehow overlooked this requirement.

“We found out that the previously adopted ordinance did not comply” with state laws, City Attorney Dave Pederson told the council.

The city voted on Ordinance C2008-1, which would rectify the situation and bring the collective bargaining agreements in compliance with state regulations. The United Mine Workers of America turned out to ask questions about what this meant for the existing agreements.

Roy Fernandez, a representative for the UMWA asked the council, “What’s the position of the city about bargaining agreements made since 2003?”

Pederson assured the union that the workers’ rights would still be protected under the current bargaining agreements.
”It’s our intention to continue on previous agreements with our three unions,” he said.

Such a move still has to be approved, and Pederson said the discussion would be placed on the agenda for the next council meeting on Tuesday, April 22.

The council also approved the local option district election, which will place a resolution to the voters on Gallup on whether or not to permit Sunday alcohol sales at bars and restaurants. According to City Clerk Alfred Abieta, the election will cost the city $25,000.

The council also approved the issuance of a liquor license to the Olympic Grill and the reappointments of Carol Sarath and Terence Gurley to the Octavia Fellin Public Library Board.