By Aleasha Sandley, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON — City workers who are members of United Auto Workers Local 1963 will get an extra $25 a year in longevity pay thanks to a “me too” clause in the union’s contract with the city.
The City Council on Thursday adopted on its final reading an ordinance raising local 1963’s longevity pay from $50 per year to $75 per year up to 30 years.
The ordinance had been amended after its first two readings in January. At that time, it did not include the increase in longevity pay, but union Bargaining Chairman Michael Fisher said then that the ordinance did not include a section that was in the contract ratified by the union that said if other unions received an increase in longevity pay, Local 1963 did too.
After negotiations between the union and the city, the ordinance presented Thursday included the increase. Without it, Local 1963 would have been the only one of six unions representing city utilities employees that did not get the increase in 2010.
“If they got an increase, our ‘me too’ clause should have kicked in,” Fisher said.
Thursday’s ordinance was first tabled during the council meeting due to confusion about paperwork given to council members with the ordinance. It was brought up for discussion again at the request of union President Trinna Davis.
Indiana law requires that municipalities have salary ordinances on file for all employees, and the ordinance for local 1963 was not official until it was adopted Thursday.
Contact Aleasha Sandley: 640-4805, aleasha.sandley@heraldbulletin.com.
Other City Council business
In other business, the City Council:
* Approved on third reading an ordinance amending requirements for billboards in the city. Council David Eicks voted against the ordinance.
* Approved on third reading an ordinance vacating an undeveloped portion of Sherman Street.
* Approved on third reading an ordinance continuing the city’s residential tax abatement system to allow for three-year abatements for houses in new neighborhoods and six-year abatements for those in older neighborhoods.
* Approved a resolution transferring funds between accounts in the Municipal Development Department.
* Approved a resolution authorizing a $100,000 loan from the capital improvement fund to the parks department non-reverting fund. Parks Superintendent John Gates said he expected the loan to be repaid in December and that it was needed because of higher 2009 expenses in the non-reverting fund and fewer golf pass sales.
* Approved resolutions designating economic revitalization areas for Titan Building Supply and Zatkoff Seals
