Davenport Public Works employees push for better pay

Davenport Public Works Department workers used a bitterly cold day to try and heat up contract negotiation talks with the city. About 30 city workers, their supporters and union leaders gathered outside of Davenport City Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 19, for a brief rally to urge city leaders to offer better pay as part of […]

Davenport Public Works Department workers used a bitterly cold day to try and heat up contract negotiation talks with the city. About 30 city workers, their supporters and union leaders gathered outside of Davenport City Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 19, for a brief rally to urge city leaders to offer better pay as part of a new multi-year contract with the public works employees. Teamsters Local 238 represents about 180 employees in the public works department. “They worked during COVID. They work in all elements. … The city is playing games with them now,” said Scott Punteney, a business agent with Local 238, and one of the speakers at the rally and news conference.

The union workers’ current contract is set to expire on June 30. Negotiations on a new contract began last fall. On Wednesday, several workers said the city has proposed a 1.5% raise in the first year of a proposed new contract, followed by a 1.25% raise for the following three years. Some workers said that the proposed pay hike is not a serious offer and doesn’t come close to covering the rising cost of living and increased prices of almost everything brought on by inflation. “We’re not given respect. … That reflects in our pay. It reflects in the way we are treated,” Darryl Smith, a 23-year veteran of public works, said. Mr. Smith added that he wants city officials to get serious about the contract negotiations and offer pay hikes that will at least cover the rate of inflation. Shortly after Wednesday’s news conference and rally, Mr. Punteney told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal that contract negotiations will continue Monday, Feb. 24, with a mediator. He said those talks have not been going well, but he hopes events such as Wednesday's rally will remind city leaders – including the mayor and council members – that public works employees help keep the city operating.  “It’s been frustrating, but we all hope to get a deal. … We just want the city to treat these workers with respect,” he added. City of Davenport officials said they also hope to reach an agreement with the workers. “We remain committed to the negotiation process at the bargaining table and hope to reach an agreement with the assistance of the mediator that is suitable to all parties,” City Administrator Doug Maxeiner said in a prepared statement.

“These workers keep the city running, ensuring public safety, clean streets and reliable infrastructure, yet the city continues to undervalue their contributions,” according to information from Teamsters Local 238. That theme and claims of the city undervaluing workers’ contributions to the community were repeated several times during a brief rally held in the bitter cold outside city hall Wednesday afternoon. (The temperatures were a little above zero and the wind chills were far below zero during the rally. Originally scheduled for Feb. 12, it was postponed due to heavy snow on that day.) At the event, most people held small posters stating “Public Workers Deserve Respect” and several held up small American flags. Mr. Punteney gave a brief speech at a podium that had a sign on it that read “Stop the war on workers.” He told the crowd that part of the problem is city officials may not realize the many jobs public works employees get done. He said they are responsible for snow removal, flood mitigation, street maintenance, waste removal services and many other jobs. “All of these things don’t get done by magic,” he added.