City of Urbana Union Deal Struck

Last week's Urbana City Council meeting was covered in the News-Gazette last Tuesday:

Urbana council OKs union contract
The Urbana City Council on Monday approved a collective bargaining agreement with the AFSCME Local 1331 that includes hourly rate increases, uniform allowances and other provisions for city workers, measures that will increase the city's budget.

The council also approved amending the budget, and noted an increase of $165,020 for a one-time payment that covers retroactive hourly rate increases of 1 percent for 2017, 2018; 2 percent for 2019; as well as a one-time ratification incentive of $2,500 for eligible bargaining unit members and other retroactive payments.

The new contract also sets up a 2 and 2.25 percent base hourly wage increase for 2019 through June 30, 2021, when the contract expires.

But it gets rid of the "me too" agreement, which guarantees the hourly wage contract terms are extended to workers represented by AFSCME, in favor of the lump sum $2,500 bonuses.

The city estimates it will save about $57,850 at the end of 2020 by eliminating the compensation match.

More details at the full article here.