CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting June 17, 1963 3:00 Ρ.Μ. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL The Special Meeting was called to order with Mayor Palmer presiding. Roll Call: Present: Absent: Councilmen LaRue, Long, White, Mayor Palmer Councilman Shanks The Mayor announced that the Special Meeting was called for the purpose of discussing the grievances of the equipment service men for the Sanitation Department. The Mayor then noted that Councilman Long had met earlier with the members of the sanitation department and had listened to their particular problems. She stated that the main issues of concern were the requirement of a doctor's certificate for any absences due to illness, low wages, shortage of help, and holiday relief. Concerning the low wages, the truck drivers had requested $2.00 an hour and the helpers $1.75 an hour as opposed to their present salaries which ranged from $1.29 to $1.86 an hour. Due to the shortage of help, situations would occur where if a driver was sick, one of the helpers would have to do the driving, leaving the other helper with a double load. The helper doing the driving, however, would still receive a helper's wage. Councilman Long then stated that the workers had requested equal pay for equal work and that they did not want to be paid on the merit system basis. Another matter which dissatisfied the workers was the fact that they were required to have a doctor's certificate for any day that they were off sick. If they were sick for 15 days they were automatically fired. Concerning the matter of holidays, City Attorney Doren Eskew noted that the employees of the Sanitation Department received vacation in addition to double time for their holidays. ) CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS June 17, 1963. : : : Councilman Long then stated that another grievance mentioned by the workers was that their equipment was in poor condition. City Manager Williams, commenting on plans to improve the conditions, stated that the City intended to acquire new equipment, but the plans had been delayed due to an increase in the price of steel. He then stated that he felt something could be worked out concerning the holidays, but that it was his understanding that many of the men preferred to work and earn the extra pay. Mr. Williams added that he would investigate the situation concerning the firing of a person for being absent 15 days. As to having a doctor's certificate for being sick, Mr. Williams said he felt some sort of proof was necessary to indicate that a man was not just taking a day off because he had accumulated it. After a considerable amount of discussion, Councilman LaRue moved the Council authorize the City Manager and Mr. Rountree to study the complaints of the Sanitation Department and then report back to the Council. The motion, seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: Councilmen LaRue, Long, White, Mayor Palmer Ayes: Noes: None Absent: Councilman Shanks ADJOURNMENT Councilman Long then moved the Council adjourn. The motion, seconded by Councilman LaRue, carried by the following vote: Councilmen LaRue, Long, White, Mayor Palmer Ayes: Noes: None Absent: Councilman Shanks The Council then adjourned. ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED: Mayor