6/25 Weekly Email + Surveys
Hi all,
This week I have an update on MOU finalization, a reminder about Prenuvo Body Scans and the Employee Survey, and two new surveys, one asking members about their opinions of a UAEA group chat, and one asking about interest in a UAEA podcast.
MOU Updates: UAEA’s new MOU should be approved by Tempe City Council this evening and go into effect on July 1st. UAEA is printing full copies of the new text to distribute to members and summarized copies to share with non-members - we will also see about attaching copies to bulletin boards as a convenient reference. We are mid-process sending copies to non-members across the City as a way of educating them about their rights and potentially encouraging them to join - if you see your non-member peers getting mail from us, it’s probably that.
If you would like a full physical copy of the MOU for yourself (or a summary), please send an email to president@uaeatempe.com or a text to 480-719-9608 - please include your name, work location, and mail code.
I’ve attached a digital copy of the summarized version to this email. This is meant to make it easier to understand and reference our MOU - that said, please do not use the summary as a substitute for the actual language of our contract.
As always, you can find the most recent digital copy of our MOU and Tempe’s Personnel Rules at this link. The 2026 copy is not uploaded yet, but should be there within the next 2 weeks.
Prenuvo Body Scans: HR requested that I plug the Prenuvo Cancer Screenings again - participation rates have dropped significantly since the plan started last year. As a reminder, these screenings are a free annual perk for employees (over 40) who are part of Tempe’s health insurance plan and entitle them, or a dependent, to a head and torso MRI scan and analysis with the Prenuvo group. These screenings can detect cancers, aneurysms, and early signs of Alzheimer's, and can either provide peace of mind or the opportunity to intervene early and address major health concerns before they escalate. If you received a scan last year and don’t feel a need to do it again anytime soon, consider talking to your spouse (if they’re over 40) to see if they’d like to take advantage of this perk. You can find more information, including how to sign up, at the above link.
Employee Survey Reminder: As a reminder, the 2026 Tempe Employee Survey is open between now and August 1st. This is one of the best opportunities employees have to provide feedback about their departments and direct workgroups - it also provides solid data about department trends that UAEA uses to make the case for internal changes. Employees still have a month to provide feedback but I wanted to remind people now - neither the City nor UAEA can address concerns we are unaware of.
Union Messaging Survey: UAEA is working on some plans to start some virtual group chats and improve member’s ability to communicate with each other across the City. We have a fairly concrete idea of what we’d like to achieve with this but would like to receive some feedback before we finalize our choice of platform and policies. Whether you are interested in participating or have no desire to participate, please fill out this survey by July 9th so we can better understand member needs.
Podcast Survey: UAEA is exploring additional options to further improve our communication in the coming year. The board is aware that not every member has consistent access to their email , so tentatively interested in producing podcast episodes that summarize what we’re working on, overview City benefits, and go over some of our special content, like interview prep materials. Before we invest the time and energy into that endeavor we’d like to know if this is something our members are even interested in and what format these should take. Our hope is that these can fill the communication gap for people who spend all week in a truck or in the field, but we’re also open to other ideas if people have them. I also should be clear, this would be in addition to existing communications we put out, not a replacement, and our goal would be to minimize the amount of time we would take to produce this content. Whether you are interested or not, please fill out this survey by July 9th to weigh in. As a reminder, you can also access all of our weekly emails online at this hidden page on our website.
July Member Meeting: Our next member meeting will be July 16th, from 5:30-6:30AM at the Tempe Municipal Operations Complex (TMOC), at the first floor conference room of Building 1. You can enter this site off of the intersection of South 48th St and West 1st St - there is plenty of parking in the employee parking area. Enter the southern building in the parking lot through the main entrance - the conference room is just to the right as you enter. You can rsvp here until Thursday, July 9th.
Free/Discounted Summer Activities: If you’re looking for free or discounted things to do with friends or family this summer, this webpage has a list of activities in and around Phoenix.
Besides free days at certain museums, don’t forget about the Culture Passes offered by Maricopa County libraries. These offer free entry for up to 2 people at places like the Desert Botanical Garden, the Arizona Heritage Center, Reid Park Zoo, and the Phoenix Art Museum. Passes are first-come, first-served, for library patrons, but I just learned that their websites can tell you which are available at every branch.
Member Recruitment Drive: UAEA is running a Member Recruitment Drive from June 1st through August 1st of this year. Every current member who refers a new member and every new member who signs up will receive $25 giftcards. New members and members who recommended new members will also be entered into a giftcard drawing at the end of this promotion - the more people who sign up, the more giftcards will be drawn. A full list of the promotion rules can be found here.
Kiwanis Event: UAEA is hosting a pool party event at Kiwanis Recreation Center on Sunday, July 19th, from 11-1PM. We will be providing free entry, food, and drinks for attendees. As a correction to prior emails, we have a slightly different contract than I initially thought - we will have 1 hour of private pool time and then 1 hour of time where the pool is open to the public. We currently have 150 spots available for members and their families and may be able to secure additional slots if there is significant interest. If you’d like to attend, please fill out this rsvp form by Thursday, July 9th.
Gas Prices Survey: UAEA is trying to gather more information about how fuel prices are impacting our members and what solutions, if any, the City could provide staff to help ease their burdens. Please fill out this survey whether you commute by car or public transportation and whether you are being impacted or not - we’d like a representative sample we can bring to City Management. Please also fill it out if you have additional suggestions about how the City can use its resources to best support staff.
Summer Reading Program: The Maricopa County Summer Reading Program is running between June 1st and July 20th of this year. Adults and children can participate for a chance to win a variety of prizes, including free food, books, basketball tickets, and a variety of gift packages.
Mill Avenue Closures: Tempe employees should be aware that chunks of Mill Avenue will be closed for construction from late May to early July. You can see a complete list at this link, with photos of each section and the impacted intersections.
Phase 3: Third Street and Mill Avenue intersection to south of Rio Salado Parkway, June 22 – July 8
HSA/FSA Deadlines: Just as a reminder, employees have until June 30th, 2026 to use funds from their FSA and HSA accounts. You can carry up to $680 from one plan year to another, but you will lose any additional funds in your account above that amount.
Community Resources: UAEA is aware of rising fuel prices and how this is impacting members. We are having some internal city discussions about possible workplace changes, but also wanted to post some resources for members who may be struggling to make ends meet. This is a similar list to what we posted in November with a few new additions. Please feel to reach out if you have additional recommendations about local resources.
AZ Food Bank Network: This link contains information about dozens of food banks and assistance sites across Arizona. You can search by the directory and the zipcodes they provide services for to find food banks in your areas.
AZ Medical and Nutrition Assistance: This is an Arizona-State run program that can help connect people with Arizona State programs that provide assistance for people who need medical coverage, WIC support, or additional access to nutrition. I do not know all that the program entails.
Maricopa County Utility Support: This is a Maricopa County program that can help people receive assistance paying for utilities. Some cities have unique offerings while others are covered under one umbrella program.
AZ 211: This is a Arizona-State run help line that can help people connect with a variety of resources and support they may be unaware of in their area.
Tempe Employee Relief Fund: This is a Tempe-run program (paid for by employee donations) that can provide support of up to $1,200 to assist Tempe employees with unplanned emergency bills (housing, mortgage, utilities, etc).
Employee Assistance Program: If you have insurance through the City of Tempe, you can take advantage of the EAP, a group of resources which can provide free therapy, legal consultations, or classes on stress management.
Cheap Recipe Guides: These are two free cookbooks designed for cooking high-nutrition and easy meals on a budget. Even if you’re not a fan of the recipes, there are some good tips on stocking a kitchen with affordable and long-lasting staples.
Free Transit Pass: This contains information on how to obtain your free bus, streetcar, and lightrail pass as a Tempe employee.
Sun Bucks: This program offers direct payments in the summer to families whose children receive free or reduced cost school lunches
Thanks for a great week, everyone!