Buffalo, NY – The fight against a city of Buffalo wage freeze could soon be headed for the courts. Five more are planning to join a lawsuit in opposition to the freeze that was issued a few months ago by the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority.
There are now over 1,700 blue and white collar employees backing the suit. President of AFSCME District Council 35, Bill Travis, said the wage freeze violates union contracts.
Travis saId the control board need to find another way to cut spending without placing the burden on workers. He said the workers he represents are not making "significant" money.
"This is not a group of individuals who have been financially breaking the city. Their cost of living expenses are increases and their wages are not," said Travis. "So far, all the solutions have been on the backs of the workers of the City. We haven't looked at outside contracts, vendor accounts or any of those items."
But Control Board Chairman Thomas Baker has repeatedly stated the City is broke and must take some drastic steps to save money. Baker said he is prepared to defend the board's efforts.