Union demands meeting with city following security breach

Milwaukee -- AFSCME District Council 48 leaders are asking for a meeting with the City of Milwaukee after their union members learned their personal information was compromised.

Thursday the following statement was sent to CBS 58 News:

\"AFSCME District Council 48 leaders say it is unacceptable that city of Milwaukee officials are unwilling to meet with them about the theft of personal information involving thousands of city employees.

 

“As soon as the theft came to light, we asked to city for a meeting so we could share the concerns of our members and learn the most accurate information from the city.  Unfortunately, the city doesn’t want to hear our concerns,” said Boyd McCamish, Council 48 executive director.

 

McCamish said he formally requested a meeting with the city on Nov. 18, shortly after learning that a flash drive containing the names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of some 6,000 city employees was stolen from the car of a private contractor working for the city.  The city declined that request on the same day.  The union renewed its request on Nov. 19.

 

“The Union and City share a common goal of providing timely and accurate information to City employees regarding their privacy concerns.  Only through open dialogue with the City can the concerns set forth in my letter yesterday be addressed effectively by the Union on behalf of its membership,” wrote Attorney Mark Sweet on behalf of the union.

 

McCamish said it is deeply troubling that the city isn’t receptive to using all possible channels to get the most accurate information to employees and to hear the concerns of employees, many of whom are extremely upset and worried about their personal information being stolen.

 

“We’re troubled that this personal information was stolen in the first place, and we’re doubly troubled that the city is ignoring our efforts to help contain the damage and protect the interests of city employees.  We’re offering a helping hand and the city is slapping it away.  Given the stakes, this is simply unacceptable,” McCamish said.\"

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Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett  told CBS 58, \"We're happy to sit down with the employees, I've sent a personal message to the employees, our Department of Employee Relations is reaching out,\" he said.  \"We're trying to get the information to employees as quickly as we can.\"

When asked about specifically about having a meeting with union representatives Barrett said, \"We're happy to do it, we're happy to meet with them.  What we have to do is, we have to make sure we've got the correct information.\"

Barrett said the meeting could take place in a matter of hours or days, not weeks.