City leaders will soon consider changes to the local resolution governing city employee unions that an area union says are “anti-worker.”
Teamsters Local 696 requested changes in December to the resolution that union representatives say will ensure employees’ right to organize and join a union, but have come out against the measures that city staff have proposed in response to its request. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider adopting changes dealing with the division of employee groups for the purposes of unionization and the voting process for unionization, among other changes.
City staff is recommending some changes, though not as extensive as the Teamsters requested. Matt Hall, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 696, said in a news release that the type of anti-worker measures included in the city’s proposal were disturbing, especially for a largely progressive city like Lawrence.
Read more: LJWorld.com.

Lawrence City Hall may soon have a new position responsible for urging city government to be more racially sensitive and aware of issues related to social justice and equity.
City commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday will be asked to give City Manager Craig Owens permission to start interviewing for a senior level manager to serve as the city’s director of equity and inclusion.
“I think Craig really heard in all of his meetings and listening tour that these are important values in our community and important work,” Casey Toomay, assistant city manager, said. “He recognizes we already are doing some of this work, but we really need to own our intentions, be more intentional about our work and put adequate resources to it.”
Read more: LJWorld.com.