COUNCIL OKS DWP PACKAGE; WACHS BLASTS SEVERANCE PLAN.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer The Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. approved the final terms of a
Department of Water and Power severance package A severance package is pay and benefits an employee receives when they leave employment at a company. In addition to the employee's remaining regular pay, it may include some of the following:
But it drew new criticism from Councilman Joel Wachs Joel Wachs served for several terms as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 2nd district. He was first elected by defeating incumbent James B. Potter. While in office, Wachs chaired the Public Works Committee and vice-chair of the Environmental Quality & Waste Management , saying it sent the wrong message to ratepayers and other city workers in bringing back overtime payments for high-paid workers. Under one of the terms of the three-part package approved on an 8-3 vote, the $70,000 salary cap on overtime is being raised to $90,000, Wachs said. ``This is the very practice we stopped four years ago and it saved up $27 million,'' Wachs said. ``This is absurd. On the one hand, we're telling the public what desperate fiscal shape we're in, and then we're approving something like this.'' Although the amount budgeted is only $1.4 million, Wachs said he was concerned it could set a precedent and soon grow out of control. DWP DWP Department of Work and Pensions (UK) DWP Drinking Water Program DWP Dynamic Weapon Pricing (gamin, Counter-Strike: Source) DWP Department of Water & Power DWP Drinking Water Protection officials said the plan is to use the overtime account sparingly and was requested only because of changes made several years ago where top supervisors are allowed overtime, but not some of their subordinates. The proposal also institutes a controversial provision where the DWP will pay some workers a $10,000 bonus to stay on the job - at an overall estimated cost of $2.4 million. Wachs said he wasn't as upset with this proposal, since he understood that some specialized workers couldn't be replaced. ``But, it's the whole way business is done around here,'' Wachs said. ``All this is negotiated in secret, discussed in secret and decided in secret. There is no place for the public to get involved. ``I guarantee you, if the public was involved, there is no way this would be approved.'' Joining Wachs in opposing the plan were Councilmen Mike Feuer and Nate Holden Nathaniel "Nate" R. Holden (1929-) served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1987 to 2002. He previously served a term on the California State Senate and was Assistant Chief Deputy to then Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. . Voting for it were Councilmembers Richard Alarcon, Richard Alatorre Richard Alatorre is a politician, and a member of the Democratic Party. Alatorre has served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. He was the first Latino to serve on the council in 23 years. , Hal Bernson Hal Bernson served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 12th district. He was chair of the Transportation Committee. Prior to being on the City Council, he served in the Navy. Preceded by Robert M. , Laura Chick, Ruth Galanter, Jackie Goldberg, John Ferraro and Cindy Miscikowski. But city officials said the package was needed as the final part of the overall severance package that was approved this year to reduce the DWP work force by 2,000 workers as it prepares for deregulation Deregulation The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry. Notes: Traditional areas that have been deregulated are the telephone and airline industries. . Wachs disputed that, saying the council was failing to live up to its responsibilities. ``No one here has any guts,'' Wachs said. ``It's not like a labor-management setup. It's like labor-labor. I don't blame the unions. They're going after everything they get. The problem here is with the City Council.'' |
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