KCTV 5New KC Mayor talks labor unions, re-election and Obama

Kansas City Mayor Sly James said hard-working municipal employees deserve raises "sooner rather than later" even as the city is cash strapped.

James said all city employees, not just firefighters, deserve raises. The city is currently working to resolve labor disputes with the local firefighters union including over raises.

"It's not a matter of unions or labor in my opinion, it's really a matter of basic, fundamental fairness," James told KCTV5's Stacey Cameron. "These people, who aren't making millions of dollars in the city working down here taking care of collection taxes or processing paperwork or doing whatever they do, they're not making huge amounts of money."

James said city employees, including firefighters and police officers, have not seen a raise in 2 1/2 years.

"We have to do what is basically fair," he said. "We also have to do what's required by our contracts and labor agreements. And we have to do that in the context of having not too much money."

The firefighters union's political action committee endorsed James in his general election match up against Mike Burke this spring.

Cameron asked James about the political heat he could take because of his comments.

"I'm gonna take heat for it if I don't. I'm gonna take heat for it if I do. I'm probably gonna take heat for wearing a yellow rose on my jacket today or wearing a sports coat instead of a suit," James said. "I'm gonna take heat regardless. But I'm not gonna start shading what we do or how we approach things just to satisfy people who have nothing better to do than be critics."

James also addressed the criticism he has received for holding a fundraiser less than two months after taking office.

"I didn't set up my own fundraiser. Somebody set it up for me," he said. "I'm glad that people thought that it was important to come out and show support for what we're doing. It gives me the ability to continue to do what we're doing."

James said he expects criticism as part of the job.

"As far as people being critical, that's up to them," he said. "The reality of politics that you always have to be in some mode of making sure that you're in a position to run. And it's not just running, it's a matter of making sure that you have the support to get the things that you need to done (actually) done."

Serving as mayor takes about 14 hours a day, James said. He said he is focusing on selling his vision for Kansas City to local business leaders, fellow elected leaders and even President Barack Obama.

During a recent trip to Washington, James said he took the opportunity to talk to Obama about job creation, saying constituents talk to him about "jobs, jobs, jobs."

James said workforce development programs and infrastructure improvements would create jobs both in the Kansas City area and in Missouri.

"We talked about rebuilding the infrastructure. We talked about programs that could be in place to rebuild the infrastructure. We talked about workforce development programs," he said. "There aren't enough jobs out there. . . . We could do those badly needed repairs on our infrastructure that we do need. And number two, we could create jobs in the process."

James was also asked whether a trolley system is needed through downtown.

"We can find critics for any idea. The question is whether or not the criticisms outweigh the advantages."

To read Part One of Cameron's interview, with James, click here.