At our last Council meeting, we approved the collective bargaining agreement for the Police Deputy Chiefs which included increased employee contributions to health care, increased employee contributions to pension and no wage increases.  Tonight, we are happy to present two additional contracts for approval with similar terms.  The Teamsters Civilian Supervisors and the Teamsters Police Professional Assistants have both voted to ratify contracts which provide savings to the City.  Both of these bargaining units have also agreed to increase their contributions to the City’s health care and to their pension plans, while taking no raises.

During these difficult economic times, the cooperation of these Unions, as well as the cooperation of the non-union employees of the City, is appreciated by the Council, and by the residents of the City.  It should be noted that the changes in health care which we are ratifying in these contracts tonight provide the City with short term, immediate savings.  However, the changes also provide long term savings related to retiree health care in the future.

The City continues to negotiate in good faith with the Police Officers and Police Command Units and the Firefighters to achieve similar savings within their bargaining groups.  Given the importance of this situation, the Council is keeping a close eye on developments in these negotiations.  The costs of health care continue to rise every year.  Currently, the firefighters, the police officers and the police command officers pay only a deductible of $250 per person or $500 per family.  They do not pay a monthly premium or co-insurance.  The new plans ratified tonight include an increased deductible, a 20% co-insurance and the option of a monthly premium for lower deductibles and out of pocket maximums.  

We are hopeful that negotiations with the remaining groups will be successful and lead to the type of savings that other bargaining units have already achieved and ratified.  However, if negotiations are unsuccessful, we are supportive of staff pursuing Act 312 binding arbitration to resolve these contracts.  

The collective bargaining units which have not yet ratified contracts should be aware of the current economic conditions facing the City and we hope they will act accordingly.  We encourage all members of the remaining bargaining units to become more engaged in their respective negotiations and especially in learning the specific details of what is being bargained on their behalf.