Analysis of Birmingham City Commission Union Negotiation Resolutions

The Birmingham City Commission recently passed a handful of resolutions to point out that they will be working with the city's unions in the next few months to iron out a new contract. As a former political adviser who worked closely with management/union relations, I find this action a little suspicious, as I know why it was done.

If something goes wrong during the union negotiations, and the unions make statements that a breakdown in negotiations occurred because of the Birmingham City Commission, or any other local government body, the commission can try to come back with a statement that they made "resolutions to continue, and work through negotiations." To the average person, it might appear that the breakdown could not have happened due to the local government since resolutions were passed to ensure the negotiations.

But a resolution is just that: It is a statement that you have decided to do something. Resolutions are not legally binding decisions. If the negotiations break down with the unions, the Birmingham City Commission has already taken a preemptive strike by these resolutions to shift the blame and public perception.