Council OKs employee raises (OS has a contract 2 years no raise 2 years @3.5 each!!!) [View All]

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100420/NEWS01/100429961#council-oks-employee-raises

By Maggie O'Brien
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Omaha’s civilian employees will get 3.5 percent pay raises in 2011 and 2012 under union contract terms approved Tuesday by the City Council.

The contract with City Employees Local 251, which represents about 600 workers, as well as similar agreements with smaller groups of civilian management employees, also includes wage freezes in 2009 and 2010.

The vote on each of the contracts was 6-1, with Councilwoman Jean Stothert voting to reject all three.

Besides the wage deal, the labor contracts also call for higher employee contributions for health insurance and increased pension contributions from employees and the city.

The civilian contracts are the first labor pacts settled under Mayor Jim Suttle, who took office last year. A proposed police contract containing a wage freeze has been sent back to the bargaining table because the council asked for changes. Suttle remains in talks with the fire union.