Richmond, AFSCME have tentative deal that would end their labor fight

RICHMOND, Ind. — City of Richmond officials and leaders of the city's largest employee union have reached a tentative agreement that, if approved by union membership, would bring an end to a labor fight that began in February.

The proposed deal would be for two years and would include a 2-percent pay increase for each year. It also would incorporate two key recommendations from a fact-finding panel that was formed to help break the impasse between the two sides.

Members of the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees would get the increase in their longevity pay that they had sought (0.25 percent of an employee's base pay for every year with the city instead of a flat $20 per year of service).

The city, on the other hand, would get a change in the "me too" clause in the union's contract that would limit the clause to cover only increases in an employee's annual salary or base rate per hour and would set the floor at "no less than one-third of the highest percentage increase provided to the other Collective Bargaining Unit(s)."

► RELATED: Richmond, AFSCME hit impasse on contract negotiations

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► RELATED: Labor fight: City wants 'me too' clause removed from AFSCME's contract

► RELATED: Panel finds potential compromise in city-AFSCME labor dispute

“We are proud of the hard work that these workers put into this process. They are dedicated to their community, and through standing in solidarity, they proved their dedication to each other as well," said Ron Richmond, communications coordinator for AFSCME Council 962, which is based in Indianapolis.

"This is a result that works.”

Negotiations between Mayor Dave Snow's administration and AFSCME broke down in February after the union voted 56-5 to reject the city's latest offer.

That led Snow to call for the formation of a fact-finding panel to help hammer out an agreement. In turn, the union filed a formal grievance, invoking the "me too" clause in its current contract to seek the same longevity pay that is given to police and fire union members.

The five-person panel — made up of two city appointees, two union appointees and a fifth person selected by those four — met April 11 to hear arguments from both sides. The group then reconvened the next week to come up with its list of recommendations.

The basis for the grievance was the "me too" clause in AFSCME's contract that states, "If the City negotiates a higher across the board raise or bonus with any other City Bargaining Unit, the AFSCME unit shall also receive such higher raise or bonus."

City officials told the fact-finding panel that the "me too" clause has made it difficult to give higher salaries to police officers and firefighters in an attempt to keep them from moving to other communities that can offer more money.

In the end, the panel partially agreed with both sides, recommending the union's requested longevity pay increase and the city's suggested changes to the "me too" clause.

Should AFSCME members give their OK to the tentative agreement, the new contract then would go before the city's Board of Public Works and Safety for final approval. Richmond Common Council also would have to pass an additional budget appropriation to cover the higher personnel costs.

Jason Truitt is the team leader and senior reporter at the Palladium-Item. Contact him at (765) 973-4459 or jtruitt@pal-item.com.