Public Safety Building housing Council Chambers, Yelm

On the Yelm City Council Agenda tonight:
Recommendation:
To authorize Mayor Harding to sign the Agreement between the City of Yelm and General Teamsters Local No. 252, January 1, 2015December 31, 2017 governing wages, hours and working conditions for members of the Yelm Public Works Department.

Background:
The current Agreement between the City of Yelm and Teamsters Local No. 252 governing wages, hours and working conditions for members of the Yelm Public Works Department expired December 31, 2014, however the agreement remained in effect until negotiations could be completed.A negotiating team representing the City comprised of Mayor Harding, Peter Altman from the Summit Law Group, Ryan Johnstone, Janine Schnepf and me [Shelly Badger, Yelm City Administrator], met with Rick Engelhart, Business Representative, Local No. 252, John Ivey and Tobie Stevens (Yelm PW representatives) in negotiating sessions in January and February.

Current Situation:
On February 24th, the Yelm Public Works members ratified the attached Agreement, which was reviewed with Council during Executive Session on the same day. The agreement includes:
– Operational changes and clarifications from the previous agreement related to work schedules, stand-by status, and compensatory time.
– The addition of military and unpaid religious leave per state law.
– A decrease in the Citys percentage paid of the employees medical premium from 100% to 95%. The 80% paid by the City for spouse and dependents remains unchanged.
– Effective January 1, 2015, a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.25%.
– Effective January 1, 2016, a COLA of 2.25%.
– The parties agree to reopen negotiations in October 2016 for purposes of negotiating changes to health insurance, as well as 2017 wages. The wage increase shall be 1.25% or greater. The negotiating team recommends that Council approve the 2015-2017 Yelm Public Works Labor Agreement. If approved a salary amendment to the 2015 Budget will be presented at the March 24th meeting.
Read more

Editor’s note:
This Blogger has always stated that the Council’s Executive Sessions are overused in withholding pertinent information from public view and this case is no different. There is little on the City Council’s Agenda requiring the volume of Executive closed-to-the-public Sessions that this city council utilizes!