Oklahoma City council settles labor contract

Jan. 04--No across-the-board pay raises are included in a new contract with Oklahoma City's largest employees' union, the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.

The city council agreed to the new contract on Tuesday. AFSCME Local 2406 members ratified the agreement last month, City Manager Jim Couch said in a memo to the council.

Annual raises have been ratcheted back as city revenues for day-to-day operating expenses slipped, driven by the contraction in the oil and gas industry.

The council made $9.2 million in midyear budget reductions last month.

AFSCME members had received 1 percent across-the-board raises last year. The previous year, they received a 1 percent raise and a one-time payment, or stipend, of $234.86.

Those raises essentially offset employees' increases in health insurance costs.

AFSCME members received 2 percent across-the-board wage hikes for 2013-14.

The city offers employees two health insurance options: a health maintenance organization and indemnity plan.

The new agreement calls for increases in employees' monthly health insurance premiums including:

--Coverage for an employee and spouse in the HMO goes from $222.36 to $244.60; rates in the indemnity plan go from $308.29 to $330.81.

--Family coverage in the HMO goes from $306.37 to $337; rates in the indemnity plan go from $415.94 to $446.33.

The agreement is for one year, retroactive to July 1, 2016.

New insurance rates took effect Jan. 1.

AFSCME represents 1,335 of the city's approximately 4,600 employees.

The council previously settled the 2016-17 contract with union firefighters, canceling plans to have voters choose in a Jan. 10 election between offers made by the city and union.

Negotiations on a new contract with the Fraternal Order of Police continue.

Also Tuesday:

--Public Works Director Eric Wenger said street, drainage, and safety improvements at railroad crossings for the downtown "quiet zone" are complete. The council authorized the city to submit documentation to regulatory agencies and, once federal approval is finalized, trains will no longer have to blow their horns at crossings from N 16 to SE 23 streets. Advocates of the quiet zone promoted it as a necessity to encourage further economic development downtown. The quiet zone has been in the works for more than three years. Estimated cost for completing the project was $3.6 million.

--Ward 8 Councilman Mark Stonecipher said a public meeting is planned at 6 p.m. Jan. 12 at Church of the Servant, 14343 N MacArthur Blvd., to discuss conflicts over use of trails at Bluff Creek Park in northwest Oklahoma City.

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