Ranking police officers and street department unions seek approval.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN — City council will consider ratifying contracts today with unions representing ranking police officers and street department workers.
City negotiators already worked out tentative three-year contracts with the two unions with council's approval needed for the deals to be finalized.
Details of the contracts will be released after ratification by council.
The Youngstown Police Ranking Officers Unit represents 66 police detective sergeants, sergeants, detectives, lieutenants and captains. The union's old contract with the city expired Nov. 30, 2006.
The Teamsters Local 377 represents the street department's 32 unionized workers. Its contract expired Dec. 31, 2006.
Both contracts were resolved without the use of a fact-finder or arbitrator, said city Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello.
"Negotiations went well," said Bob Bernat, the Teamsters' business agent.
The contracts
Police Capt. Kenneth Centorame, president of the ranking officers union, said contract negotiations were challenging and included a few "marathon" bargaining sessions.
The ranking officers' expired contract included a 10 percent pay raise over three years. The union members' annual salaries currently range from $56,412.61 for detective sergeants, sergeants and detectives to $74,605.67 for captains. They also are eligible for overtime.
The street department's expired contract included a 9 percent pay raise over three years. The union has 23 different job classifications with current annual salaries ranging from $24,135.63 for new laborers to $38,703.36 for maintenance painters. They also are eligible for overtime.
The ranking officers currently contribute 3 percent of the total monthly health care premiums with caps of $10 a month for single coverage and $20 a month for family coverage. The street department union members contribute 7 percent of the total monthly premiums with $25 and $50 maximum contributions for single and family coverage, respectively.
The city's monthly health premiums are $412.16 for single coverage and $1,042.45 for family coverage.
The city wants to increase the monthly premium contributions from its employees.
Other negotiations
Meanwhile, the city continues to negotiate with the Youngstown Police Association, which represents 117 patrol officers.
YPA President Edward Colon said about three-quarters of the contract's issues, all minor ones, are resolved. There are 19 outstanding "major issues" to be resolved including salary, medical coverage and residency requirements, he said.
The patrolmen's contract expired Nov. 7, 2006.
The two sides are supposed to meet June 15 with Michael Paolucci of Cincinnati, a fact-finder assigned to listen to both parties and render a nonbinding decision.
"Maybe we can resolve it by then; we're hopeful we can," Colon said.
The two sides may negotiate Friday or early next week, he said.
skolnick@vindy.com
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Ranking police officers and street department unions seek approval.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN — City council will consider ratifying contracts today with unions representing ranking police officers and street department workers.
City negotiators already worked out tentative three-year contracts with the two unions with council's approval needed for the deals to be finalized.
Details of the contracts will be released after ratification by council.
The Youngstown Police Ranking Officers Unit represents 66 police detective sergeants, sergeants, detectives, lieutenants and captains. The union's old contract with the city expired Nov. 30, 2006.
The Teamsters Local 377 represents the street department's 32 unionized workers. Its contract expired Dec. 31, 2006.
Both contracts were resolved without the use of a fact-finder or arbitrator, said city Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello.
"Negotiations went well," said Bob Bernat, the Teamsters' business agent.
The contracts
Police Capt. Kenneth Centorame, president of the ranking officers union, said contract negotiations were challenging and included a few "marathon" bargaining sessions.
The ranking officers' expired contract included a 10 percent pay raise over three years. The union members' annual salaries currently range from $56,412.61 for detective sergeants, sergeants and detectives to $74,605.67 for captains. They also are eligible for overtime.
The street department's expired contract included a 9 percent pay raise over three years. The union has 23 different job classifications with current annual salaries ranging from $24,135.63 for new laborers to $38,703.36 for maintenance painters. They also are eligible for overtime.
The ranking officers currently contribute 3 percent of the total monthly health care premiums with caps of $10 a month for single coverage and $20 a month for family coverage. The street department union members contribute 7 percent of the total monthly premiums with $25 and $50 maximum contributions for single and family coverage, respectively.
The city's monthly health premiums are $412.16 for single coverage and $1,042.45 for family coverage.
The city wants to increase the monthly premium contributions from its employees.
Other negotiations
Meanwhile, the city continues to negotiate with the Youngstown Police Association, which represents 117 patrol officers.
YPA President Edward Colon said about three-quarters of the contract's issues, all minor ones, are resolved. There are 19 outstanding "major issues" to be resolved including salary, medical coverage and residency requirements, he said.
The patrolmen's contract expired Nov. 7, 2006.
The two sides are supposed to meet June 15 with Michael Paolucci of Cincinnati, a fact-finder assigned to listen to both parties and render a nonbinding decision.
"Maybe we can resolve it by then; we're hopeful we can," Colon said.
The two sides may negotiate Friday or early next week, he said.
skolnick@vindy.com
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
City council will consider ratifying contracts today with unions representing ranking police officers and street...
