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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974 11-06 Mayor, two councilmen censured by employees REVIEW ■ Mayor, two cOuncilmen censured by Scott Carlson The Maplewood branch of the American He added,"Whatever the merits of such can bring up,"Greavu said as he tore up Federation of State, County and legislation may be, the basic question at his council material on that agenda item. Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has issue is whether under our federal "I don't want to discuss this." censured Maplewood Mayor Robert system, the federal government has the Bruton and councilmen Donald Wiegert legal authority under the constitution to and Burton Murdock for their action to impose upon the states and their sub But unable to resist the temptation, contribute$100 in a national fight against divisions employment rules and Greavu added, "Once you open the door the minimum wage provision of the Fair regulations." for them it will open the door on the jobs Labor Standards Act. But dissenting councilmen Greavu and of everybody. ..They want to change the The Maplewood city employees union, Anderson indicated that decent working whole law. If we can't pay them (the local 2725, took its action last week after wages were the issue. summertime help) a fair wage we the city council voted 3-2 to support the "This is about the lowest thing a man shouldn't hire them at all." fight initiated by Arizona and supported by the National League of Cities. Councilmmen John Greavu and Nor- man Anderson dissented. For their action Greavu and Anderson were commended. But Bruton, Murdock and Wiegert were charged with a"blatant disregard of . . . what might be best described as a minimal program of labor standards, i.e. minimum wage," Betty Eelvog, secretary of local 2725, stated. The employees' resolution of censure stated the deciding vote to support the overthrow of the Fair Labor Standards Act was taken by Mayor Bruton, "who by his vote has betrayed the trust placed in him by virtue of his election support from organized labor." But at the council meeting of Oct. 17, when the vote was taken, Bruton em- phasized he was not against the entire Fair Labor Standards Act but its restrictive clause which would include part-time summer help. "All we're concerned with is summer time help,"Bruton said. "I'm not looking at it for full-time help."Bruton indicated that by requiring a minimum wage it may cut out many summer time jobs for young adults who need them. Wiegert, who voted for the $100 con- tribution to fight the constitutionality of the law, said if it can't be changed it might mean the end of the ' ' playground and skating rink progra . cty "We've mbeen able to hire a lot of people at almost a volunteer rate, ,Wiegert said. "The federal government tends to disrupt jobst'system—it would mean a lot less The council took its action to S p the court fight at the recommendationoft Manager Mike Afill Mayor Carl ue Wyczawski alid New Ulm er LW cz of l inneSota 'President of the YCzawski s Munici any'cities Whe:ed that there arelew to r�examine uracils "have ,u w°rk � soh °r adJust their en*not had II