Assembly Vice Chair Dan Coffey and South Anchorage Assemblywoman Jennifer Johnston sponsored the attempt to rescind the IBEW contract vote. Coffey made a distinction -- the vote Tuesday was to undo the Assembly's support for the electrical workers' contract, not to rescind the contract itself, he said.
Coffey said he wasn't sure what the effect of a successful vote to rescind would have been. Part of his intent, he said, was to put the Assembly's displeasure on record about the way it was informed about the contract during proceedings and public hearings last year and maybe create an atmosphere for improving the deal.
"Since nobody knows what happens if we do" rescind, "that uncertainty creates an opportunity to resolve a situation that would not otherwise exist," he said.
Coffey and many other members complained they were ill-informed and even misinformed about the agreement by the administration of former Mayor Mark Begich.
"The union didn't do anything wrong," Coffey said. "It wasn't their job to do what the administration" was supposed to do.
Coffey and others said they weren't fully informed about all the cost factors in the contract before they voted on it, and that a "closed shop" provision it contains violates federal funding provisions for some kinds of contracts. Additionally, the resolution approving the contract specified a version of the document that was supposed to have been attached to the resolution; none was.
Discovering they had voted on the contract without knowing exactly what was in it displeased many members. But members who opposed the motion to rescind the vote said that would have made a bad situation worse.
The current administration is trying to achieve wage concessions with the IBEW and several other city unions to help close a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. Attempting to undercut the existing contract wasn't likely to make that process work better, said Assemblywoman Sheila Selkregg.
"The reality is, the errors were made on our side of the bargaining (table)," and in order to close the budget gap in bad economic times, "we absolutely have to have the unions at the table," Selkregg said.
Voting to rescind support would send a bad message to other groups the city contracts with, she said. Selkregg and others said any rescission would likely end up in court, with other costs down the road.
Eagle River Assemblywoman Debbie Ossiander voted to rescind the vote. "I do not believe we are rescinding a contract, but I believe we are sending a message," she said.
East Anchorage Assemblyman Mike Gutierrez voted against rescission. "The fact we don't know what the effect of rescission will be bothers me greatly," he said. "I feel like you're asking me to make the same mistake twice."
Coffey, Ossiander, Johnston, and Assemblymen Chris Birch and Bill Starr voted to rescind support for the electrical workers' contract. Selkregg, Gutierrez and members Elvi Gray-Jackson, Pat Flynn and Chair Harriet Drummond voted against rescission. The 5-5 tie meant the effort failed.
Also on the Assembly agenda Tuesday night was a similar proposal to rescind support for another long-term contract with Anchorage police. The panel, however, did not reach that item before adjournment.
The new ordinance highlighting $20 million in potential budget cuts was sponsored by Coffey, Johnston and Eagle River Assemblyman Bill Starr.
About half that amount had already been identified by Acting Mayor Matt Claman, who has said he learned about the deficit a couple weeks after he was sworn in Jan. 3 to replace Begich. The rest of the trims are recommended by Assembly members.
The budget changes will go to at least two public hearings in coming weeks.
Contact Don Hunter at dhunter@adn.com or 257-4349.
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