AUBURN - The 165 CSEA employees of local unit 6251 have a new five-year contract after more than a year of negotiations with the city.
Auburn city councilors voted 4-1 Thursday night to approve a contract that gives city employees 3-percent wage increases over the next four years and a 3.5-percent increase in the fifth year.
City manager John Salomone said the contract will cost the city an additional $113,000 in the upcoming fiscal year, but added that the union's concessions in medical benefits offset more than 50 percent of those costs.
"I am very pleased with the cooperation of the union, which worked together with us for the benefit of both its employees and the city," he said.
Much of the savings in the medical benefits come from a three-tier prescription plan that was put in place. This plan will save the city about $133,000 next year and increase savings in subsequent years. An alternative prescription plan will also go into effect within three months, and will allow workers to order discount "maintenance" drugs through Canada.
Union president Tom Gabak said the prescription plans will not only save the city money, but also the workers.
"I think it's a very fair contract for both sides," he said.
Mayor Timothy Lattimore voted against the contract because he didn't approve of how it was negotiated with respect to retirees and residency.
Lattimore didn't agree that retiree prescription plans should be modeled after current workers' plans, and he also believed the city could have saved a half-percent if, as a bargaining chip, it allowed employees to live outside city limits. As it stands right now, CSEA employees have to live inside the city.
Salomone said that proposal was on the table early in negotiations, but was never seriously considered. Councilor Robert Hunter said the state sets those standards for CSEA employees.
Lattimore has also expressed concern that the increases awarded to city workers coupled with stagnant revenue growth will force the city to cut jobs come budget season or pass on the burden to tax payers.
Auburn police officers received a five-year contract on Dec. 16 that yielded wage increases of 3 percent in each of the next five years. The firefighters' contract was approved on Nov. 23, with salary increases of 2 percent for 2003, 3 percent for 2004 to 2006 and 2 percent for 2007.
"I want to know how much of an increase are we going to have to ask for," he said. "I don't want a mass layoff of men."
Salomone said most of the increases to spending have been as a result of rising pension costs mandated by the state.
"When budget time comes up, we will have some tough decisions to make," he said.
In other business:
Three residents spoke out against the city's proposed waste-container project Thursday night. Officials want to give residents a single, 35-gallon trash container to eliminate what they see is an abuse of the trash system.
Rick Colavito brought up a number of issues against the program and proposed that the city establish a committee to weigh public reactions and to brainstorm on a better plan.
Staff writer Benning W. De La Mater can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or ben.delamater@lee.net
City manager John Salomone said the contract will cost the city an additional $113,000 in the upcoming fiscal year, but added that the union's concessions in medical benefits offset more than 50 percent of those costs.
"I am very pleased with the cooperation of the union, which worked together with us for the benefit of both its employees and the city," he said.
Much of the savings in the medical benefits come from a three-tier prescription plan that was put in place. This plan will save the city about $133,000 next year and increase savings in subsequent years. An alternative prescription plan will also go into effect within three months, and will allow workers to order discount "maintenance" drugs through Canada.
Union president Tom Gabak said the prescription plans will not only save the city money, but also the workers.
"I think it's a very fair contract for both sides," he said.
Mayor Timothy Lattimore voted against the contract because he didn't approve of how it was negotiated with respect to retirees and residency.
Lattimore didn't agree that retiree prescription plans should be modeled after current workers' plans, and he also believed the city could have saved a half-percent if, as a bargaining chip, it allowed employees to live outside city limits. As it stands right now, CSEA employees have to live inside the city.
Salomone said that proposal was on the table early in negotiations, but was never seriously considered. Councilor Robert Hunter said the state sets those standards for CSEA employees.
Lattimore has also expressed concern that the increases awarded to city workers coupled with stagnant revenue growth will force the city to cut jobs come budget season or pass on the burden to tax payers.
Auburn police officers received a five-year contract on Dec. 16 that yielded wage increases of 3 percent in each of the next five years. The firefighters' contract was approved on Nov. 23, with salary increases of 2 percent for 2003, 3 percent for 2004 to 2006 and 2 percent for 2007.
"I want to know how much of an increase are we going to have to ask for," he said. "I don't want a mass layoff of men."
Salomone said most of the increases to spending have been as a result of rising pension costs mandated by the state.
"When budget time comes up, we will have some tough decisions to make," he said.
In other business:
Three residents spoke out against the city's proposed waste-container project Thursday night. Officials want to give residents a single, 35-gallon trash container to eliminate what they see is an abuse of the trash system.
Rick Colavito brought up a number of issues against the program and proposed that the city establish a committee to weigh public reactions and to brainstorm on a better plan.
Staff writer Benning W. De La Mater can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or ben.delamater@lee.net
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