CONTRACT

“There’s no health care premium sharing for first two years of contract,” said MAPE Labor Relations Specialist Joe O’Connor. “For full time (newer hires) we made some modifications in Paid Time Off (PTO). They used to go from 10 to 20 years with no increase. Now they get 28 days or 210 hours of PTO at 15 years. At 20 years, they get 30 days or 225 hours. Part-time Employees were getting 30 hours Paid Time Off a year. We bumped them to 40 hours for first two years and in three years they go to 45 hours. They had an increase in educational reimbursement for both groups (Technical & Supervisory). They had a 10 percent increase for members that are getting Longevity. Snow emergencies have always kind of been a sticky issue with people who have to stay and work when City Hall is shut down. They’ll get an equal number of hours off when everybody gets to go home and they have to stay and work. Previously, they agreed to keep the workforce at 65 percent full-time and no more than 35 percent part time, we changed that to 70/30.”

“Years ago, we had to give concessions. This is the first contract since those times where we are getting some of that back. It might be little, but it’s a good start,” said Gordie Felczak, Local Union President. “We took a 33 percent cut in Longevity about 10 years ago. We were able to get them to throw 10 percent back toward it. This is the first contract where we’re getting decent raises also. I think the 70 to 30 full-time to part-time ratio was another big win for us. It’s hard being a full-time Employee and part-time Employees get up and walk away during tax time and that’s more work added onto the full-time Employees. We’ll have a few more full-time people at critical times. We don’t want our part-time members to not reap the benefits of overtime, but at the same time if you’re so light staffed in some departments, it’s time to get somebody in there. Our unit had 136 members in 2002 and we’re down to 84. We almost lost half our group and the part timers were to help relieve the pain from our layoff. Hopefully it will be all full-time people again one day.”

Contract Duration: 4-year agreement ratified June 12, 2018 and effective from 7-1-18 to 6-30-22.
Wage Increases:
2.5% increase effective July 1, 2018.
2% increase effective July 1, 2019.
2% increase effective July 1, 2020.
2.5% increase effective July 1, 2021.

Fringe Benefits:
• Newer full-time Employees will have increased Paid Time Off (PTO). Full-timers had no increase in PTO from 10 to 20 years of employment. At 10 years, they receive 26 PTO days or 195 hours annually. Now those hired after July 1, 2012 will receive 28 days, or 210 hours at 15 years and 30 days or 225 hours at 20 years. Full-timers can sell back up to 3 days of PTO at the end of the year.
• Part-time Employees also received an increase in PTO. Part-time Employees were getting 30 hours of PTO a year. Now they receive 40 hours PTO for the first two years of employment and after 3 years of service, they receive 45 hours of PTO.
• A 10 percent increase in Longevity for Employees who are receiving it.
• Educational reimbursement increases from $2,000 to $3,000 annually for undergraduates and $3,000 to $4,000 for graduate students.
Manning & Safety:
• If City Hall closes early due to a snow emergency, and certain groups have to continue working, those Employees will receive an equal number of hours off in Compensatory Time given in the next pay period.
• An increase in full-time staffing minimums. Previously, the workforce had to be 65 percent full-time and no more than 35 percent part-time. Now the workforce will consist of 70 percent full-time and no more than 30 percent part-time.
Health Insurance: Changed to Simply Blue High Deductible plan with $2,000 deductible for singles and $4,000 for two persons or family. Employer to offset costs by contributing $1,200 for singles and $2,400 for two persons or families to their Health Savings Account (HSA). No premium sharing for first two years of contract. After Jan. 1, 2021 Employees pay 5 percent toward their premium, and 10 percent of premium after Jan. 1, 2022.
Bargaining Team: MAPE Labor Relations Specialist Joe O’Connor, Local Union President Gordie Felczak, Karen Odbo, Danielle Kopacki, Dean Martindale, Pam Pasternak and Christina Dobbs.