MCALLEN - McAllen voters said yes to two propositions that cancel each other out. Proposition 1 prohibits outside arbitration. Proposition 2 encourages arbitrators for contract disputes. Voters approved both.
The issue is should city employee labor contract disputes be resolved by an outside arbitrator or McAllen leaders. Voters decided in favor of McAllen leaders in Proposition 1. It passed with more than 53% of the vote. Mayor Richard Cortez says, "We were very pleased that Proposition 1 passed."
Proposition 2 also passed in favor of arbitrators with more than 50 percent of votes. Proposition 2 is supported by McAllen's police and fire unions. They say they would like to iron out contract negotiations with city leaders, but arbitrators give them a Plan B.
Sgt. Joe Garcia, the McAllen Police Officers' Union President, says, "If not - if we can't negotiate in good faith, if they can't negotiate in good faith with us -then there are options out there for us."
The mayor says city leaders, not arbitrators, should control McAllen's budget. Mayor Cortez says even though both propositions passed, that's how things will stay.
"The good news to me is that the taxpayers of McAllen won because at the end of the day the mayor and the city commission still decide what we pay everybody, and I think that's in the best interest of our city," says the mayor.
The unions say it's not over yet.
"We're hoping that Prop 2 officially gets certified in our favor," says Garcia.
The mayor says there is no gray area here. City leaders will remain in control. The next round of contract negotiations is set for early next year.
