While city employees will see an increase in wages as part of a three-year agreement between the city and the general unit labor union, the employees will also be expected to start contributing to their own health benefits.
The second of five city labor union contracts received preliminary approval from the City Council Monday. The contract for the general unit, which includes library employees, customer service representatives, secretaries and code enforcement officers, is a three-year agreement, effective through June 30, 2011.
The most notable changes in the contract were the 3 percent increase in wages and an increase in employee contributions to health benefits. Previously, employees received 100 percent coverage for their own health benefits and contributed 15 percent for coverage of dependents.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, employees will be expected to pay 4 percent of their own benefits and 14 percent for dependents. Those numbers will be adjusted yearly, through 2011, when employees will pay 12 percent of both their own and their dependents’ coverage.
The previous labor union contract expired in July.
“While we’ve been moving forward at a pace slower than we’d like, it’s been very productive and very cordial,” City Administrator Jerre Bryant said Monday about labor negotiations.
The general unit union’s shop steward, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Gouzie, said he was pleased with the contract and negotiations, as well.
The council approved an agreement with the police union in the spring. Byrant said the city has reached tentative agreements with the fire department and public safety dispatch unions. The final contract is with public services employees, which, he said, is one negotiation session away from settlement.
The City Council voted unanimously to give preliminary approval to the general unit contract and will vote on final approval on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in Room 114 at Westbrook High School.
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