Politics & Government

Concessions Could Keep Public Works Employees on Staff

Mayor Hank Kuspa brought a plan for the Public Works department before aldermen Tuesday, Sept. 13. With the council's recommendation, Kuspa will take the proposed concessions to the workers' union.

A set of concessions that includes five furlough days per employee and a wage freeze for Fiscal Year 2013 could help restore the positions of two Public Works employees previously laid off, said Mayor Hank Kuspa Tuesday, Sept. 13.

The proposed changes, in addition to accrued savings from two months of salary for the laid-off workers, would create a total savings of $102,000, .

The city would make up the difference, about $16,000, with funds set aside for capital projects, Kuspa said.

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"If they (the union) agree to this proposal, I hope to be able to return laid-off workers to full-time status by the first of next month," Kuspa said.

In July, two workers were laid-off after the union and the city were unable to come to terms over the original set of requested concessions: a proposed pay freeze and 10 furlough days instead of the 2 percent pay raise that went into effect May 1. Two staff members were then laid off, reducing the total public works staff to 13.

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Public Works Director Troy Ishler advised the aldermen to vote in favor of the changes, stating concern about the status of several projects within the city—and the upcoming winter.

"This will affect the department, especially during snowplowing," Ishler said. "We can handle a normal event, but anything more than that would be almost impossible."

Also in May,  reached an argreement with the city, locking in a 2 percent raise each year of the three-year contract, which expires April 30, 2013. Among other concessions, the Metropolitan Alliance of Police conceded to nine furlough days in the 2011–2012 fiscal year—a move which no other units agreed to, according to Mayor Hank Kuspa. The department will not see any layoffs in the 2011–2012 fiscal year, the contract reads.


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