Amidst grumbles, county OKs seven last-minute union contracts

The Miami-Dade County Commission on Tuesday somewhat reluctantly renewed collective bargaining agreements with seven employee groups. There was grumbling among the commissioners, who received the 2023-2026 agreements late Monday night and found them added to Tuesday’s agenda.

Both Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Chief Financial Officer Edward Marquez coaxed most commissioners aboard the collective bargaining bus, with the exception of Sen. René Garcia, by assuring them they were “status quo” agreements with no surprises. Commissioner Eileen Higgins was absent from the meeting.

Multiple commissioners agreed to approve the agreements but expressed discontent at receiving the documents so late.

Commissioner Raquel Regalado said the action “takes power from this board because it makes us a rubber stamp.”

The seven collective bargaining agreements ratified were between Miami-Dade County and:

■The Transport Workers Union, Local 291.

■American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, A.F.L.-C.I.O., Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management Employees Local 3292.

■Government Supervisors Association of Florida, OPEIU, Local 100 – Supervisory Employees Unit.

■Government Supervisors Association of Florida, OPEIU, Local 100 – Professional Employees Unit.

■American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, A.F.L.-C.I.O., Miami-Dade County Aviation Employees Local 1542.

■American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, A.F.L.-C.I.O., Miami-Dade General Employees Local 199.

■American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, A.F.L.-C.I.O., Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Employees Local 121.