Union On Attack Against City, Mayor

The union representing Houston city employees, including dispatchers at the Houston Emergency Center (HEC), has upped the pressure in on-going contract talks by creating a Web site that mocks, “Houston, we have a problem.” The site includes coverage of comm center staffing questions, including that high school student interns were handling 911 calls, despite denials by the mayor and the center’s director. The union has also purchased local media ads, which the mayor matched using campaign funds, to promote the claim that city workers are paid 21% less than other comparable cities. Explore the Web site and union tactics here.