DAPHNE, Ala.—Close to 30 newly unionized Public Works Department employees addressed the City Council in its business meeting Tuesday.

The workers had joined the Mobile chapter of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, having been prompted by the fact that the department has no director.

The employees have said they seek greater respect and a pay increase, though the latter demand has been only vaguely described. The former pertains to alleged wedges between the union and the city. 

Rick Lambert, a union representative, during Tuesday’s public participation, said that Mayor Fred Small intimidated employees in past, private meetings.

“We won’t be told to shut up or asked to leave his office,” he said.

Small denied the claim.

“I never told any city employee who met with me to shut up,” he said. “We’ve listened to their concerns.

“The employees gave me some concerns and said they would give me a couple of months,” he added. “They showed up three weeks later.”

Small, himself a union member, said he plans to reach a settlement with the group, which comprises just more than 50 percent of Public Works employees.

“I’ve told the Public Works guys I’m not against them unionizing,” he said. “All I want to know is that they’re being taken care of.

“So give us a little time,” he said. “Let us see if we can’t work this out.”

Council President John Lake, also a union member, agreed with Small.

“I am pro-union,” he said. “It’s a democracy; people should have it. But we also serve the citizens of Daphne and we have to do what’s best for the city.”

Councilwoman Cathy Barnette—who said she’s met with Public Works members—expressed that she doesn’t know why they’ve unionized, but she realizes they want to be heard.

That’s true, according to Lambert. 

“We’re going to be at every one of these meetings; we’re not going away,” he said. “We’ve got problems.”

In other business:

All residents who do not comply within 30 days of receiving the letter by paying the entire bill or by paying the current month’s fees and arranging a payment plan with the city finance department will receive a summons to appear in municipal court.