Conneaut’s AFSCME employees are told no wage hikes until 2015
By Mark Todd, Star Beacon, Ashtabula, Ohio | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The contents of the report has been approved by members of Local 2182 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and -- earlier this week --
Both sides agreed to fact-finding when talks became deadlocked. Employees have been working without a new contract since the start of the year, but the parties agreed to honor the terms of the old contract until a report was issued, according to the document. A hearing before the fact-finder was held
The report dealt with several issues, wages among them. The union sought pay hikes of 4 percent in 2013, 3.5 percent in 2014 and 3 percent next year. The city sought pay freezes the first two years and a 2.5 percent increase in 2015.
The fact-finder upheld the wage freeze for 2013-2014, but ordered a 4 percent increase in 2015.
Administrators argued the city's financial situation inhibits its ability to meet the union's requests. Money received from the state, such as local government funds, have been slashed and tax revenue has declined. The union responded by presenting a 2012 audit of the city members said showed surpluses between 2009-2011. Also, unreserved fund balances in the general fund averaged between 10-17 percent those years. The union took issue with the city's goal of maintaining a 20 percent fund balance for operating expenditures, calling the number "unusually high."
Fact-finder
"The city is not prosperous," McDowell wrote. "Although finances of the city have been slowly improving from 2009 recession levels, city finances remain significantly problematic in 2013 and 2014."
There are signs of optimism, however, according to McDowell. "The city has not shown an inability to pay in 2015," he said.
McDowell also ruled union members must pay 10 percent of their health insurance beginning in 2015. The reason harkens back to the city's financial plight, he wrote.
"The city asserts that it considers health care as a major concern," McDowell said in the report. Health insurance costs have grown at more than 8 percent over the past few years and is the "fastest growing city expense," according to the report. Costs have increased 17 percent this year, McDowell wrote.
Other issues in the report ranged from work schedules and vacation to paid holidays and hours of work.
In separate remarks,
"It's unfortunate (the city) has to use citizens' money to hire an outside person to help negotiate a contract," Dalrymple said. "That has been the trend of the last two city managers. I believe it is a waste."
Dalrymple also said city workers are routinely punished for expensive decisions made by officials. The automatic water meter program that cause more than
"They balance the budget on the backs of employees," Dalrymple said. "We're not the ones who spend the money. But any time the city comes up short, the workers are the ones who pay for it."
He also was critical of Eggleston.
"It's not us against them, but the city manager prefers it that way," Dalrymple said. "There is no accountability for this administration whatsoever."
Eggleston, in an email message, fired back on Wednesday:
"I believe the fact-finders report was fair to all parties involved," he said. "No matter the outcome, the union always believes they are being taken advantage of. The administration is working hard to make sure that all the bargaining units across the board have similar benefits. The city offered a three percent wage increase and the fact-finder gave the union four percent. We accept it and move on.
"The administration and
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(c)2014 Star Beacon (Ashtabula, Ohio)
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