Following a march from Madison's City County Building to the Overture Center, members of Madison's Common Council approved all pending labor contracts for city employees through 2012.
The special Common Council meeting was held to approve these contracts before anything happens in the state Legislature, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said. Cieslewicz referred to Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to eliminate some collective bargaining rights for public employees, among other aspects of his Budget Repair Bill.
Of the contracts council members approved, many of the contracts include a 3-percent pay increase at the end of 2011 and a 2-percent increase at the end of 2012. These contracts also include the city continuing to pay for most or all of a group's health insurance costs.
Jennifer McCulley, who represented the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 40 union at the meeting, said the communication about contracts between the alders and public employees show what a good relationship is supposed to be like.
District 8 aldermanic candidate Scott Resnick said regardless of what Walker does, city employees are secure until 2012 with the approval of these contracts.
""They represent the interests of the people at the Capitol, represent the interests of basically everybody,"" Resnick said.
Ald. Julia Kerr, District 13, said by approving these contracts council members are protecting the best interests of the city of Madison and will allow the city to continue to function.
""It's extremely hard to be open for business if no one is plowing the streets,"" Kerr said.
After approving the ten contracts, the crowded room began to cheer and gave council members a standing ovation.
Council members also unanimously passed a resolution supporting Wisconsin workers' right to organize and collectively bargain.
""There are those who want to divide us and we will not be divided,"" Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 12, said.
Prior to the resolution's approval, Ald. Jed Sanborn, District 1, said he supports the collective bargaining and local control aspect of the resolution but said he was concerned about some of the language.
The council modified the resolution to eliminate some of the language Sanborn deemed as going ""too far.""
Ald. Michael Schumacher, District 18, said the alterations make the message louder and clearer.
Prior to the meeting, hundreds stood in front of the City County Building while Cieslewicz and the majority of the alders spoke before the march around the Capitol building. The crowd also sang ""Happy Birthday"" to the mayor.
""The bill … is nothing more than an assault on Dane County and the city of Madison and our way of life,"" Common Council President Ald. Mark Clear, District 19, said.
Cieslewicz said he is proud of the political movement at the Capitol but wished he didn't have to be a part of it.
""If you have to call the National Guard, it's probably not a good idea,"" Cieslewicz said of the reaction to Walker's proposal.
