080-1998 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach..fl.lJs
L.T.C. No. 80-1998
LETTER TO COMMISSION
June 4, 1998
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
FROM: Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
SUBJECT: RICHARD BENDER, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CITY
MANAGERlLABOR RELATIONS, RESPONSE TO SUSAN SMITH,
PRESIDENT, CWA LOCAL 3178, MAY 27,1998 MEMORANDUM TO AL
CHILDRESS, CODE COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR, CONCERNING
MICHAEL SAUNDERS
Attached is the above-captioned memorandum for your review.
If you require further information, please don't hesitate to contact either me or Mayra Diaz
Buttacavoli.
Thank you,
SR:~ :lcd
Attachment
c: Richard Bender
Murray Dubbin
AI Childress
T. C. Adderly
Susan Smith
F:\CMGR\$ALL\L TC.98\SAUNDER.RB
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
MEMORANDUM
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TO:
FROM:
Susan Smith DATE: June 5, 1998
CWA President
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Richard Bender.J
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Executive Assistant to City Manager/Labor Relations
SUBJECT: Your May 27,1998 Memo Addressed to AI Childress
By copy of this memorandum, I am advising Mr. Childress not to respond to the question
you posed.
There was nothing in his correspondence to Mr. Saunders that suggests that he considers
Good Friday to be "more important" than Passover.
As we have discussed in the past, the playing of the ethnic card only serves to inflame and
divide. It is only the truth and the equity of a situation that need concern us. Mr. Childress
has alleged rule violations by Mr. Saunders and issued a disciplinary response which
Mr. Saunders has challenged. I suggest that it is best for all if we let the grievance
procedure determine whether cause existed for the discipline.
Shalom.
RWB:lsg
a:\RWB-WORK4-98\RBWlMEMO. RWBSS4CHLD.MEM
cc: ,::;7Mayra Diaz Buttacavoli, Assistant City Manager
.../ AI Childress, Code Compliance Director
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Communications 1674 Meridian Ave., Suite 308
Workers of America Miami Beach, Florida 33119
Local 3178 (305) 538-3722 . Fax (305) 538-3723 ~ J .. 'LI" / . ._
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DATE:
May 27, 1998
, ~ ;
FROM:
AI Childress, Director
Code Compl iance ()
Susan Smith, President P
CWA Local 3178 !
TO:
SUBJECT:
YOUR MEMO OF 5/13 TO M. SAUNDERS
I am in receipt of Michael Saunders memo to you dated May 21, 1998, in which he
addresses several important factors that you mention in your 5/13/98 memo to him.
I personally found your comments superfluous, as Mr. Saunders is and always has been an
excellent employee with a good work record. In addition, I have memorandums from
other staff members that they felt that Michael was being singled out and harassed because
he exercised his rights, given him, under the First Amendment, that of free speech.
Discrimination of any form is not tolerated by CWA International, or this local, and be
advised that we intend to pursue this on each and every venue we can, both internally and
externally.
One interesting facet out of all of this, and maybe you can enlighten me, is why, in your
"managerial opinion" is it that you think that Good Friday, as a day of observance, is more
important than "Passover"?
As President of CWA Local 3178, and as a "Jew", I would like to know.
cc: Sergio Rodriguez
Mayra Diaz Buttacavoli
Murray Dubbin
T.e. Adderly
Richard Bender
Mayor Neisen Kasdin
Vice-Mayor Jose Smith
Commissioner Martin Shapiro
Commissioner Susan Gottlieb
Commissioner David Dermer
Commissioner Simon Cruz
Commissioner Nancy Liebman
Nestor Oliveir
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