Editor,
On Jan. 28, the Albuquerque Journal ran an article about Mr. Diego Arencon, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 244. The Journal stated, “The union took the matter to court after (Mayor Richard) Berry objected to the higher salary.” Not true! A suit was filed when, contrary to the current contract, Mr. Arencon was ordered to cease his daily union business. The contract states, “To develop a more cohesive relationship between the Union and the Albuquerque Fire Department, upon request of the Union president, to place the Union president on a 40-hour work week for union business.” This is clear and simple language the Mayor refuses to honor. If the Mayor believes it is wrong for city employees to conduct union business while on duty, why hasn’t he ordered other city union presidents to cease to do so?
Also not reported was that Mr. Arencon offered to settle with the city by relinquishing his
negotiated pay rate. This offer was refused by the city. The city continued to attempt to hobble labor by claiming it was against New Mexico statute for a city employee to conduct union business while on duty. Judge Baca found that the city was wrong in this claim and that there is no discrepancy between state statute and a public employee conducting union business while on duty. Judge Baca ordered the city to allow Mr. Arencon to return to his regular union business. To date, the city has ignored Judge Baca’s order and prevents Mr. Arencon from performing union business.
Albuquerque residents need to know that while the Mayor has been on television stating he wants to sit with the unions to discuss solutions to the city budget shortfall, his chief administrative officer has repeatedly canceled meetings that Mr. Arencon has scheduled to do just that. Instead, the Mayor has contracted with Management Associates Inc., a well-known union-busting firm. This contract was made for less than $55,000, thus not requiring council approval. This firm has no interest in the city and labor-finding solutions to the city’s financial problems. They profit by turning labor against the Mayor. They are doing a great job! It is outrageous that in a time of financial hardship the Mayor has hired a firm to work for the city when the city already has employees to perform the same duties; employees who have the city’s best interest at heart.
In addition to refusing to honor our contract, every worker’s comp claim filed by an AFD firefighter has been denied since the Mayor has taken office. One of our brothers was burned in a house fire this past week. I wonder if the Mayor’s worker’s comp board will deny his claim as well. Is refusing to pay for firefighter’s injuries suffered on duty one of the Mayor’s ideas to reduce the city’s budget?
We want to help the city address its serious financial situations. We have ideas that could cut over a million dollars from AFD’s budget just this year. But, we cannot help the city if the Mayor continues to attack us, refuses to talk with us and allows himself to be guided by an outside firm that profits from turning us against each other.
Mathew D. Blanchfield
AFD firefighter
