As you know the APA Board, Bargaining Team and Bargaining Sub-Committees started preparing for bargaining sessions since the fall of 2021. The APA also requested to begin scheduling bargaining sessions with the City in February 2022. We did not wait for the City to contact us, we contacted them first. We came to the first bargaining session and every session after fully prepared with data, analytics and proposals. Since March 1st, 2022, the APA has met with the City on ten occasions to bargain a new contract. There were three additional sessions that were cancelled or re-scheduled at the request of the City. The APA’s bargaining team is almost always at every session. Our goals have been consistent throughout this process, and that is to represent our members and their top priorities as the City’s middle management workforce. We have bargained professionally and in good faith since our initial request to begin bargaining. We are at the point where we are meeting with a State of Michigan mediator in an effort to make progress in obtaining a new contract with the City of Grand Rapids. This should have been the easiest contract to bargain based on the City’s past economic performance, strategic goals and new budget. The Bargaining Team is very disappointed that we are still fighting for the respect you deserve. Please be patient as we continue this process.
