CITY OF MIAMI EMPLOYEES

DECLARATION OF UNITY
WHEREAS, the Miami Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #20, the Miami International Association of Firefighters Local
#587, AFSCME Local #1907 and AFSCME Local #871 are the certified collective bargaining agents that represent
approximately 3,500 employees working within the City of Miami representing some 500 job classifications; and
WHEREAS, the employees represented by the above organizations and their families have collectively
sacrificed and agreed to concessions worth millions of dollars during the term of the administration and have
had their pensions and benefits drastically reduced under imposed contracts and forced concessions; and
WHEREAS, the current administration has misrepresented facts to the media, to the public, and to other elected
officials, and has unjustifiably vilified its own public servants; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Civil Service Board, provided by charter, is responsible for legislative, quasi-
judicial and administrative functions that serve to protect and defend the merit system; and
WHEREAS, the Civil Service Rules were established to ensure that fair and unbiased rules, regulations,
policies, and procedures are utilized in the hiring, promoting, and retaining of capable people in the City's
workforce rather than through nepotism and cronyism; and
WHEREAS, the Civil Service Rules are defined in the City of Miami Charter and are protected from the
political influence that has infected the current administration and these same rules protect employees from
unfair, political and biased attacks, and provide for due process in the issuance of discipline, testing,
promotions, and terminations; and
WHEREAS, the administrations practices have had a debilitating effect on those who serve this community,
and have caused low morale amongst employees, and have created a workforce that is demoralized; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Charter Amendments seek to remove the protections of due process, fair hearings
and equal treatment held sacred in any democratic society and further seek to undermine the fundamental
collective bargaining rights of public employees protected by Article I, Section 6 of the Florida Constitution;
and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned organizations have come together and are UNITED in their commitment to the
public servants and the citizens we serve in our community and to educating the public with facts and truth;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the above mentioned organizations hereby DECLARE and
AFFIRM their UNITY and collective solidarity in opposing the proposed amendments to Section 36 of the City
of Miami Charter and in ensuring that all rules, powers, abilities, definitions and functions of the current rules
remain unchanged.
Dated this 5th day of May, 2014.


Robert Suarez, President, IAFF Local #587 Javier Ortiz, President, FOP Lodge #20



Sean Moy, President, AFSCME Local #1907 Joe Simmons, President, AFSCME Local #871