Government Digest

Labor unions, city clash
TAMPA — According to a statement from Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, the city has reached an impasse with all three labor unions on fiscal year 2010 contracts. The unions represent police officers, firefighters and all city employees. The mayor cites “financial challenges,” the recession and a budget deficit for being unable to come to terms with the unions.
Iorio notes that this will be the third consecutive year that workforce cutbacks are needed to balance the budget. She says, “The City simply cannot afford to provide pay raises to any of our employees this upcoming fiscal year.”