Home | Back

City unions agree to one-year pay freeze

Share_print Print Story    |    Comments    |   

October 21, 2009

by Eric Marotta
and Jeff Saunders

Editor and reporter

Macedonia -- The city will have around $200,000 extra in the bank next year, as the city's 67 unionized workers have agreed to forgo their traditional 3 percent wage increases next year.

According to Finance Director Loren Sengstock, the $200,000 equals a 3 percent, across-the-board wage hike for all 220 city employees, as the city's non-unionized workers typically get the same wage increase as unionized workers.

Mayor Don Kuchta said the agreement should help the city get onto a firm financial footing next year, as income tax revenue has dropped this year and next year is expected to be tight as well.

While city Council on Oct. 8 approved one-year contract extensions without the raises for the police dispatchers, sergeants, patrolmens and firefighters unions, Teamsters Local 436 business representative Chris Pavone told the News Leader Oct. 15 that the city's service department and administrative workers will agree to a new, one-year contract without a wage increase.

"There will be a zero pay increase," he said.

The three police locals comprise 27 people, including five sergeants, 16 patrolmen and six dispatchers. There are 13 unionized firefighters, 17 unionized service department workers and 10 administrative employees.

"All the employees were involved," said Mayor Don Kuchta, who explained negotiations began in August. "They came in and they know the city is hurting."

Kuchta said the city has cut its budget in the face of decreased income tax revenue this year, and doesn't expect the situation to improve next year.

According to the Regional Income Tax Agency, which handles the city's tax collections, Macedonia can expect revenue to be $800,000 under the $7 million it collected in 2008.

Though the figures are not in, Kuchta said the city is also expecting an increase in health insurance costs when it signs a new contract in January. The city presently pays 8 percent of employee health care premiums.

Kim Sutton, representing the police dispatchers, said there was no dispute over extending the union's contract.

"Everyone was in agreement with it so that was not a problem," she said.

Police Sgt. Vince Danko, who represents the department's five sergeants, said freezing employee's pay for one year should make it less likely there will be layoffs.

"Waiting another year helps everyone out," he said. "We think its best to wait a year and hopefully things will be better."

Firefighter Joe Natali, who represents 10 full-time firefighters, said that after Kuchta explained the city's position to union representatives and asked if their members would be willing to accept a wage freeze, he went back to the union members with the proposal.

"Given that there are people out there getting laid off, we didn't feel right getting raises," said Natali.

"We'll see what happens next year," he added.

E-mail: emarotta@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3171




Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed. The-News-Leader.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.

Login above or Register to comment.
 0 Total Comments Home | Back