MONROE - The City of Monroe Common Council ratified on an 8-1 vote the labor agreement with city employees Tuesday, Aug. 6.
The new American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) contract, which runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2013, gives a 52-cent raise across the board.
The initial contract proposals were exchanged Dec. 11, 2012. The pay raises and other terms of the contract are retroactive.
Tyler Schultz voted against the agreement, saying he was troubled with the union's lengthy debate for negotiating the terms and resulting retroactive pay increases.
Changes to some items in the contract were minor.
The new contract reduces the trial and training period to not more than 30 days, down from the previous 60 days. It also spells out the city's new health insurance plan with the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance program and contributions, agreed to by the union representatives earlier this year. Payout of unused sick leave upon death or retirement was also included, to allow payment to the employee's VEBA (a voluntary health reimbursement arrangement) account or payroll check, depending upon the amount remaining.
Military leave and workers' compensation terms were eliminated from the contract, because state and federal laws already cover those issues.
The last contract, ratified in March of 2011, was for a two-year term, and was essentially an extension of the previous two-year contract, with modifications. Employees received no pay raises and gave up their guarantee of no layoffs in return for a two-year contract, instead of a one-year contract with the guarantee. Sick leave accumulation became unlimited, and the rate of sick leave granted was reduced to four hours per month after 100 days were accumulated.
The new American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) contract, which runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2013, gives a 52-cent raise across the board.
The initial contract proposals were exchanged Dec. 11, 2012. The pay raises and other terms of the contract are retroactive.
Tyler Schultz voted against the agreement, saying he was troubled with the union's lengthy debate for negotiating the terms and resulting retroactive pay increases.
Changes to some items in the contract were minor.
The new contract reduces the trial and training period to not more than 30 days, down from the previous 60 days. It also spells out the city's new health insurance plan with the Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance program and contributions, agreed to by the union representatives earlier this year. Payout of unused sick leave upon death or retirement was also included, to allow payment to the employee's VEBA (a voluntary health reimbursement arrangement) account or payroll check, depending upon the amount remaining.
Military leave and workers' compensation terms were eliminated from the contract, because state and federal laws already cover those issues.
The last contract, ratified in March of 2011, was for a two-year term, and was essentially an extension of the previous two-year contract, with modifications. Employees received no pay raises and gave up their guarantee of no layoffs in return for a two-year contract, instead of a one-year contract with the guarantee. Sick leave accumulation became unlimited, and the rate of sick leave granted was reduced to four hours per month after 100 days were accumulated.