When Brandon Drake stood in front of television cameras on Jan. 20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – he told the St. Louis area that Collinsville city workers were hiding behind closed doors that day, disrespecting the legacy of King by working on the holiday set aside to honor him.

Drake called the City’s actions “a slap in the face to diversity in this town,” but did not claim to speak on behalf of other African-American’s in Collinsville, or on behalf of other minorities.

If Drake did not speak on behalf of African-Americans in Collinsville, the question left open, then, was if the City’s decision to close City Hall, but not give workers the day off, was perceived by the city’s African-American community as a slap in their faces.

The qualified answer from at least two African-American leaders in town, and their congregations, was, “no.” The reverends Avery Duff, of New Mt. Zion Church, and Carl Berry, of Wilkerson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, both said they would like City Hall workers to have that day off, but understand that City Manager Scott Williams is working toward that goal.

Both said they spoke on behalf of their predominantly African-American congregations when they said they were willing to be patient with the city, who they feel is making progress.

When told of the pastors’ response, Drake said he was not surprised, that the answer was telling in itself and that his East Coast upbringing gave him a different, more progressive way to view things than the people of Collinsville.

“The people in the churches, they have lived in Collinsville for years. I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland,” Drake said. “I’m from the East Coast. I have a different perspective than people who have lived here for years.”

Drake, a current Collinsville resident, said  his experience outside of Collinsville differentiates him from those in Duff’s and Berry’s congregations. “I know how things operate in a more progressive environment,” Drake said. “It’s about being knowledge of a progressive way of thinking versus being pacified. I’m not pacified by a few crumbs thrown at me.”

Berry, who is from East St. Louis and still lives there, said he does not believe the City’s handling of the holiday is an issue because his congregation told him it is not an issue. “Most of the criticism I hear about the community comes from outside the community,” Berry said

The City and Duff have had conversations about the best way to honor King, Duff said. “They are working towards solving the issue, and that’s why we’re patient,” Duff said. “I’m sure we’ll have some more conversations in the future.”

There has been a city-wide celebration to honor King the past four years and, in the two years Williams has been the City Manager on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, he has ordered City Hall closed. The City has not, however, granted workers an additional holiday. The decision is financial, Williams said.

“It costs about $40-50,000 to give city employees a holiday,” Williams said.

The sticking point is the contracts the City negotiates with the six unions that represent the various groups of workers. Each contract provides for 10 holidays. None call for Martin Luther King Jr. Day off.

Mayor John Miller said giving city workers an 11th holiday would not be a prudent use of taxpayer money. “The city does not want to put the burden of another paid holiday on the taxpayers,” Miller said.”We tried to negotiate with the unions and they were reluctant to do it,” Miller said. “So we looked for an alternative.” The alternative was to close City Hall, but to require employees to work.

Williams said it has been a point of discussion with each union to request that they trade a different holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Three of the six unions confirmed the discussions had taken place, one could not remember, one could not comment due to current negotiations and one said those discussions never happened.

Jim Beck, a business representative for the International Union of Operation Engineers Local 148 and Local 148B, which represents the water plant operators and the City Hall finance department workers respectively, said the City proposed that they trade any of their 10 current holidays for Martin Luther King Jr. day, but neither union was interested.

The City Hall employees have year-end work that must be completed around that time, so they did not want to trade, Beck said. City employees represented by five of the six unions do not get holidays off, but, instead, get overtime pay on negotiated holidays. City Hall employees are the only group that does not work on holidays.

For water plant operators, “there isn’t much appetite to swap a winter holiday for one when the weather is warmer,” Beck said. Their current holidays are New Year’s Day, Washington’s Birthday, Lincoln’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. They are the only union that has Lincoln’s Birthday as a holiday, the other five have the day after Thanksgiving in its place.

Beck, who has 20 contracts with municipalities, mostly in the Metro East, said 10 of those contracts have Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday. It became part of the Millstadt contract last year, Beck said. The contracts average 10 holidays per year.

Mark Johnson, president of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 520C, which represents the Streets Department, said he attempted to have the holiday added, but there were economic issues that prevented the City from providing the additional day.

“We did discuss getting an additional holiday or switching holidays, but we weren’t able to reach an agreement at that time,” Johnson said. “I do think the city is making an attempt to expand on this holiday.”

A spokesperson for the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge no. 103-2, which represents the civilians in the Collinsville Police Department said he was unsure if the discussions took place before he took over negotiations, which were already in progress. Union President Lisa Kirk did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge no. 103, which represents uniformed officers, is currently in contract negotiations with the City. Unions nor City officials will discuss contract specific details during negotiations.

Kurt Litteken, president of the International Association of Firefighters (AFL-CIO) – Local 2625, said the City has never discussed trading a different holiday in their contract for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Union contracts are a non-issue, Drake said. “If you really wanted to make it right, you would have found the 45 grand,” Drake said. “Remember, I worked with the financial advisory authority, I know about the money. I hate to say it, but it has something to do with race.”

In an effort to find a solution, Williams has again been in contact with minority community leaders and is considering convening a panel discussion. “We need to find a way to ensure Dr. King is honored the right way,” Williams said.

Meanwhile, the same group that organized the silent walk the day before Martin Luther King Jr. day has organized a panel discussion of their own on March 1. Williams was invited to the discussion.

At the silent walk, which was billed by the organizing committee as an event that “will allow attendees to consider how we treat each other as humans and motivate us to find ways to care more for others in our daily lives,” Drake criticized Collinsville officials for their handling of the holiday. No city leaders were invited to attend the event.