MONROE - The Monroe Salary and Personnel Committee met at City Hall with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union to start contract negotiations.
The present contract expires at the end of this year.
The city is offering a two-year contract to coincide with the ending date of the police union contract. Other offers by the city were identical to those made with the police union.
The city offered health insurance premiums of 97.5 percent in 2009 and 95 percent in 2010. Sick leave accumulation of 100 days was offered, as was 50 percent of excess sick leave to be contributable to the Health Care Reimbursement Account (VEBA).
The city also is asking that a different health insurance plan providing equivalent coverage be acceptable.
The municipal employees are asking for holiday call-out pay for both actual and observed holidays, and for full-day holidays for Christmas eve day and New Years eve day.
Employees are asking for on-call pay to be increased to $15 for weekdays, and $25 for holidays and weekends, with an option for employees to be provided with a city vehicle for on-call responses. They also are asking for the water utility supervisor to participate in the on-call rotation.
They are asking for a "severe weather policy" and for job descriptions for all positions.
The employees also want the city to provide a longevity schedule to provide for additional steps at 2, 8, 15, and 20 years of service, with each step adjusted 3-plus percent.
Wage increases will be discussed in future meetings.
The city and employees went into closed meetings for further negotiations at about 6 p.m. Thursday.
The present contract expires at the end of this year.
The city is offering a two-year contract to coincide with the ending date of the police union contract. Other offers by the city were identical to those made with the police union.
The city offered health insurance premiums of 97.5 percent in 2009 and 95 percent in 2010. Sick leave accumulation of 100 days was offered, as was 50 percent of excess sick leave to be contributable to the Health Care Reimbursement Account (VEBA).
The city also is asking that a different health insurance plan providing equivalent coverage be acceptable.
The municipal employees are asking for holiday call-out pay for both actual and observed holidays, and for full-day holidays for Christmas eve day and New Years eve day.
Employees are asking for on-call pay to be increased to $15 for weekdays, and $25 for holidays and weekends, with an option for employees to be provided with a city vehicle for on-call responses. They also are asking for the water utility supervisor to participate in the on-call rotation.
They are asking for a "severe weather policy" and for job descriptions for all positions.
The employees also want the city to provide a longevity schedule to provide for additional steps at 2, 8, 15, and 20 years of service, with each step adjusted 3-plus percent.
Wage increases will be discussed in future meetings.
The city and employees went into closed meetings for further negotiations at about 6 p.m. Thursday.