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EDITOR:
Ratepayers again didn’t get a seat at the table on June 25 as EID initiated new behind closed door labor negotiations.
Literally millions of dollars of EID employee compensation and lavish benefits are secretly being discussed … including current per employee $78,000 average salaries, $18,500 medical plans, $12,800 pension contributions, and up to 50 days, equivalent to $15,000, paid time off annually.
On Feb. 13 similar secret meetings resulted in EID’s Board approving a token change to employee contributions to EID’s lavish medical benefits program. Starting in 2013, employees will contribute a paltry 10 percent of dependent medical premium costs and continue to pay absolutely none of the employee medical premium costs.
Yet EID press releases touted the 2013 initiation of 10 percent dependent premium participation as some type of a huge employee concession and “savings” to ratepayers.
On the heels of approving 102 percent of water rate increases for 2010-2015, isn’t it time that EID’s Board start being fair and equitable to ratepayers and require substantial reductions in EID’s bloated $27 million of employee salaries and benefits?
Reducing the above per employee $46,300 of medical premiums, pension contributions and paid time off to a still whopping $30,000 would trim the 102 percent of rate increases by 8 percent. And it would still leave the average annual EID employee compensation at $108,000. How many non-government employees in Placerville receive $108,000 compensation packages?
The current EID employee agreement does not expire until December 31, 2013. But absent employee concessions on their lavish benefits, a fiscally responsible Board would order immediate layoffs and furloughs to trim enough compensation costs to reduce rates by the 8 percent that reasonable employee benefit levels would produce.
EID General Manager Jim Abercrombie repeatedly touts that EID’s rates are “fair and equitable.” Ratepayers deserve to see General Manager Abercrombie and the EID Board take action to start to prove that “fiscally responsible “and “fair and equitable” mean something.
GREG PRADA
Cameron Park
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
edieJuly 12, 2012 - 3:13 pm
gees can i get a job at EID, sign me up please
Phil VeerkampJuly 27, 2012 - 5:54 am
Greg, the rate payer's seat at the table is occupied by the rate payer's elected representatives, the Board of EID. The negotiations are between EID and EIDEA. We are represented by our elected representatives. The employees are represented by their elected representatives. Greg, can you point me to a labor negotiation anywhere that you and I and John Doe are invited to participate? In 2009 I was one of the first of subsequent dozens of staff cutbacks at EID. Your list of EID cost reforms ought to begin with 2009 and enumerate all staff and benefit cuts. Your assertion of "secret" shenanigans with respect to labor negotiations is fundamentally untruthful.
BillJuly 27, 2012 - 7:51 am
Greg, I am unsure of the exact way that EID completes their negotiations, but don’t the elected individuals represent the GM. I know here at the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District the General Manager creates information for the Board, whatever the topic. The Board members then vote to approve whatever was presented by the GM, or at least 3 do. We like to keep it simple.
BillJuly 27, 2012 - 8:04 am
Greg, I think that EID is behind with benefits. So some catch up is needed to say with the suck up the benefits game. GDPUD is a much smaller District with less revenue so if we can over compensate so can EID it is only the rate payers money. You just raise rates to increase revenue needed. Remember keep it simple spend more, charge more it's easy.
SparkyJuly 27, 2012 - 8:42 am
I, for one, want to see Prada at the negotiation table just to see how real progress happens. LOL!!! Successful negotiations are built on trust and compromise. Good luck with that one Greg-O ....
EID InsideJuly 27, 2012 - 9:43 am
The EID Board gets the same health benefits as the staff, so it's in their interest to approve a generous benefit package.
Oh, Really?July 27, 2012 - 10:41 am
Inside - ever heard of Medicare? The only EID Director who takes health benefits is Greg's hero, Alan Day.
Mister DrippyJuly 27, 2012 - 10:58 am
Greg, your articles remind me of the word "gadfly". A gadfly is an insect which stings cattle, and deposits its eggs in their skin. Your inflammatory words towards the hard working indiduals at EID seem to have the purpose of drawing attention to yourself and infect others with your ill-will. Please be a good boy, follow mother's rules and be polite, kind and gentle towards others. There is enough strife in the world. In other words, get a better filter for your thoughts. Kindly and for the benefit of others, Mr. Drippy
gatopelonJuly 28, 2012 - 1:47 am
Greg, If you don't like how the EID is run. Just turn off your water and dig yourself a well. You might be happier, but I doubt it.
sageJuly 28, 2012 - 6:35 am
gnat: Your precedent-setting response anticipates "If you don't like the government establish your own country." I like it!
NancyJuly 29, 2012 - 8:27 am
The real problem with the utility companies (EID, PG&E, Waste Management, etc) is lack of competition. These companies have monopolies and would behave much differently if they had to compete for customers. If water company A had lower rates because of no union like benefits to support as compared to company B like the EID, which one would you choose?
CJ TurnerJuly 29, 2012 - 6:23 pm
Please understand that the upper management benefits packages are very different than the ones that the actual workers receive. The workers out there digging your water lines and cleaning the sewer system do not get these same lavish benefits. So please, start pointing the finger at the extremely top heavy upper management. They are the ones mismanaging our monies and at the same time, screwing over the very people who keep them employed.
CJ TurnerJuly 29, 2012 - 6:27 pm
Nancy - EID is non-union. They have an association that is ran by the upper management. So, really the workers do not have anyone on their side protecting them like a union would.
Greg PradaJuly 29, 2012 - 7:45 pm
The $46,300 of benefits is the average for the rank and file. Derived from EID budgets and e-mail from General Manager Jim Abercrombie. The extra benefits Management get can be found at: http://www.fixeid.org/Documents/EID%20Exec%20Mngmnt%20Comp20110126.pdf