Shaker Heights Approves Public Works Union Agreement

Shaker Heights City Council on Monday approved a new labor agreement between the city and Teamsters Local 507, the union that represents workers in the Public Works department.

The contract between the city and Public Works' former union, the Municipal Foreman and Laborers' Union Local 1099, expired on Dec. 31. Teamsters became the workers' union on Jan. 1 as a result of an employee vote.

The new collective bargaining agreement has been approved by both sides for a term to expire on Dec. 31, 2014. It gives employees a 2 percent wage increase this year, which will be retroactive to Jan. 1. Public Works employees will not receive increases in 2013 or 2014.

"I thought that it was a very fair deal," Councilwoman Lynn Ruffner said after a special city council meeting. "We've asked these workers for the last couple of years to just cut back, cut back. We're giving them 2 percent in 2012, but they won't get anything the next two years, so I thought it was a fair agreement."

The agreement states that the department will undergo no layoffs this year "except in the event of a severe loss of revenue which would place the city in fiscal watch." The city won't lay any Public Works employees off in 2013 or 2014 either, but that guarantee hinges on whether voters approve a on Aug. 7.

The agreement also establishes health insurance deductibles and sick days. Uniform and safety shoe allowance will increase from $150 to $200 per year.

The six-member city bargaining team included Mayor Earl Leiken, Chief Administrator Jeri E. Chaikin and Public Works Director Bill Boag. The workers were represented by Local 507 Business Agent Albert Mixon and stewards Allen Aikens Jr., Walter Palcisco and Gerald Towalski.