Council OKs proposal for labor settlement

Steve Sebelius

Thursday, March 21, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

After almost a year without a contract and negotiations that finally went to an arbitrator in late November, the City Council approved a settlement proposal that would give employees a 3 percent cost-of-living raise.

The plan, approved by the council in a closed-door session Wednesday, is estimated to cost the city $2.2 million. Members of the Classified Employees Association were slated to vote on the proposal today.

Under the proposal, which affects 62 percent of the city's workforce, employees will get a 3 percent adjustment, slightly higher than the consumer price index, retroactive to July 1995. Certain employees, whose job classifications were downgraded in a 1992 compensation study, will get a lump-sum payment, said Rick Anderson, acting personnel chief for the city.

In addition, the city will add a seventh step to its six-step salary system and implement changes recommended by the salary study.

Employees already get a 5 percent "step" salary increase each year on their anniversary until they reach the top of their job classification. From there, they receive only the cost-of-living increases, unless they are promoted into a new category.

Appointed employees who are not covered by the union received a 3 percent cost of living allowance in July.

Among other items in the city's settlement offer:

* Adding 35 cents to the current 4 percent salary differential for employees who work graveyard hours. Swing-shift employees will continue to get 4 percent extra.

* Adding $10 per tool category to the tool allowance for employees required to supply their own equipment and a $5 increase in shoe allowance for employees who are authorized to receive it.

* Extending full disability pay for seven weeks for employees hurt on the job. Currently, the city pays full salary for one month, and employees can petition for more after that.

* Paying $35 for employees who are required to be on call during a weekday, and $50 for those on call during a weekend. Employees who are actually called out are paid at time-and-a-half.