Vicksburg’s Mayor and Aldermen meet with disgruntled public works employees

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) —In an unadvertised public meeting, Vicksburg Mayor Willis Thompson, Aldermen Thomas ‘TJ’ Mayfield, and Alderwoman Vickie Bailey met with public works employees in the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 18.

The meeting was clear in its objective: city employees feel underpaid for the work they perform in service to the city.

“In the sewer department two guys just lost their lives, not here, but they do the same things we do. They inhaled the gas and they died,” said one representative of the workers. “We do that same job everyday and these guys make $8 an hour.”

Pardre Grey, a 17-year city employee, served as the group’s spokesperson and went on to describe the conditions sewer workers face on the job. “We deal with everything. From needles, and every disease in the books. HIV, Aids, Syphilis, you name it and we have to put our hands and our bodies into it. We do it on a daily basis, and we feel like we’re always at the bottom of the totem poll,” he said. “We see a lot of stuff going on around here for first responders. And I’m not saying that they don’t deserve it.”

The group went on to explain during cold weather with icy road conditions, public works employees are responsible for salting roadways so first responders can get through. Additionally, it was stated even during thunderstorms, which can uproot and overturn trees, public works employees are responsible for clearing paths.

One worker explained he had a son who works at Kroger bagging groceries.

“He makes $13 an hour. We have foremen here who don’t make that,” he said.

It was also pointed out Warren County public workers make $15 per hour as a comparison.

“It is impossible to live on $1000 a month,” said the frustrated city employee. “We do a lot for this city that people just don’t know. When someone’s sewage is backed up in their house, do they call the police? Do they call an EMT? No. They call us.”

Additionally, workers noted the sewer department is currently short-staffed and has a high employee turnover rate. The workers questioned why there wouldn’t be extra funds left over from the unfilled positions in the department.

Mayor Thompson pointed out the current administration had only been in office for three months.

One worker interrupted Mayor Thompson and said, “Excuse me, Mayor, but didn’t you just get a raise?”

Alderwoman Bailey stepped in to explain the board voted to restore the Mayor’s salary to what it was before the previous Mayor reduced it in his last meeting before leaving office.

“But, my point is that you had time to figure out that raise,” said the city worker.

That comment sparked a contentious back-and-forth between the board and public works employees, with city employees openly expressing their displeasure with their pay and the board.

Grey, a foreman in the sewer department, said, “The meeting could of went a whole lot better. I feel like we didn’t get to a common ground. We didn’t really get nowhere if you ask me. We didn’t get nothing out of the meeting.”

“I’m going to tell you what’s going to happen,” said Paul Reed, another city employee. “These guys are going to have two choices. Either they can find another job or wait till the budget. They talking about the budget. Every year since I’ve been here, 9 years, it’s the same thing. We can’t get the budget. But everybody else get raises except the sewer department, the street department, water, gas. We don’t get that, we don’t get no raises.”

Alderwoman Bailey said of the meeting, “There are issues, and their voices were heard. I feel and see what they’re talking about. We’ve got some good employees, and they work hard. Hopefully we can do the same thing the police department implemented, and implement it across the city as a whole. They have legitimate concerns.”

The Alderwoman was referring to the raises recently implemented in the Vicksburg Police Department. In order to achieve the raises, VPD Chief Larry Burns reallocated funds already in his given budget. This resulted in budget neutrality for the department, and Chief Burns did not have to ask the board for additional funding.

“We came down here to hear from our workers, and we’re going to do that all over the city. Now one of the things that I promised the people that voted for me was that I was going to fix the financial state of the city, and I’m going to do that. I know we have to choose between building the reserves and restoring the budget or give raises. I’m going to build the reserve and fix the finances,” said Mayor Thompson.

The meeting and complaints were not a surprise to Alderman Mayfield.

“Well, if you remember, I said in the first board meeting I refuse to accept a raise until public works gets one. So, for me, this has been an issue I knew about since this administration took over. This is a serious issue. We’ve got to work hard every day, and I was appreciative of them wanting to talk to us directly. I thank them for that and we’re going to work hard every single day to make their lives easier and better,” said Mayfield.

As for whether the meeting accomplished anything, it will be left to the city’s board. Mayor Thompson wouldn’t give a direct answer to the workers.

“There’s some good things happening in Vicksburg, and our revenues will increase. We’ll have an opportunity to allocate funds for infrastructure and maybe be able to be more competitive on the employee retention side. But right now I just think we have matters that have to be addressed, we’ve got to stay the course.,” said Mayor Thompson. “I don’t regret coming here, I want to hear from the workers. I was a city employee for twelve years before I came to office. I know the expectation is every time we get a new administration, the first thing on the plate of employees is raises. Everybody wants a raise, everybody bring proposals, talking about how their job is important, and their job is important. But we have to have cooler heads, and we have to prioritize. We have to do things we know are right. Now, saying this may not get me elected again, but my promise was I was going to leave this city better than I found it and I’m going to do that. What happens after that, that’s fine. But Willis Thompson is going to fix this city and that’s my promise. And in the process we’re going to do some good things and the employees will benefit. They’ve just got to give us time to do it.”

Scott Jones, an 8-year city employee who fills many roles in public works, concluded, “Nothing is going to be done.”