CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Memo Date: September 23, 2024
Agenda Date: September 24, 2024
Prepared By: Tammy B. Gemmati, Administrative Services Director
Through: Stockton Whitten, City Manager
Requested Action:
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Approve the three-year contract between the City of Cocoa and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 630 Union for the contract term October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027, contingent on LIUNA having a passing ratification vote.
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Cocoa and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 630 Union worked together through negotiations for a new labor agreement and now have a tentative agreement on a three-year contract effective October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027. The City’s negotiation team included Administrative Services Director Tammy Gemmati as chief negotiator, City Manager Stockton Whitten, Finance Director Rebecca Bowman, Utilities Director Jack Walsh, and Public Works Director Abigail Morgan. LIUNA’s Business Manager Ronnie Burris and Chief Steward Kenny Jones were the main representatives from LIUNA.
Negotiation meetings started in July 2024 and a tentative agreement was made on September 20, 2024. The LIUNA Union will be holding their ratification vote on Friday, September 27. Staff is requesting City Council to approve this three-year contract contingent on the Union ratification vote result that will be available on September 27. In the event the Union does not ratify the contract, the City and Union will resume negotiations and the contract will not be in effect. However, City administration is hopeful the contract will have a favorable vote.
Since this was a complete contract negotiation, there were many changes made, some administrative in nature with little impact. Highlights of the contract modifications include:
Article 2 - Union Security and Check-Off
• Per Florida Statutes, Section 447.303 that went into effect on July 1, 2023, it is no longer lawful to deduct union dues in payroll. Therefore, almost the entire article was removed.
Article 4 - Management Rights/Employee Rights
• Clean-up to language regarding notice to employees for any hazardous workplace knowledge.
Article 7 - Union Business
• Union stewards should not be paid overtime to conduct union business unless requested by the city.
Article 8 -Grievance Procedure
• Clean-up language
Article 11 - Holidays
• Employees will receive one floating holiday annually equal to 8 hours that will not rollover into the following fiscal year. The contract has specifics on how it will be used and applied.
Article 12 - Sick Leave
• Sick leave abuse will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Article 9 Discipline and Discharge.
Article 13 - Hours of Work and Overtime
• The language from the Emergency Pay MOU was implemented into this Article.
• The Callback pay section was cleaned up to state that the employee will receive the call-back pay in addition to all hours worked when called in on standby. Unless the employee works less than three hours, then they would get paid the callback pay.
• Shift differential was increased to $.75 and $1.00.
Article 14 - Wages
• FY25: 5% wage increase, with increased pay grades minimums and maximums of pay plan by 3%.
• FY26: 6% wage increase, with increased pay grades minimums and maximums of pay plan by 4%.
• FY27: 7% wage increase, with increased pay grades minimums and maximums of pay plan by 5%.
• Members must be hired by March 31 of the Fiscal Year to receive the full increase the ensuring Fiscal Year or they will be brought to the new pay grade minimum.
• Certification pays were revised for Fleet Technicians, Electricians, Arborist. Commercial Drivers License (CDL) drivers required to have CDL for their positions will now receive a certification pay of $150.
Article 15 - Health and Welfare
• Made changes to the language to remove the dependent contribution amount. The City hasn’t followed that language in several years.
• Any changes to insurance require notice to the bargaining unit.
Article 17 - Safety and Health
• Shoe allowance increase to $175 and $270 electrician shoes
Article 25 - Promotional Vacancies
• Voluntary or Involuntary demotions will result in either 5% or 10% pay reduction, depending on the pay grade difference.
Article 27 - Emergency Pay (ARTICLE REMOVED)
• The Emergency Pay Article is no longer necessary to have in the contract due to the City having a citywide policy.
Article 27 - Duration
• Three-year contract through September 30, 2027. The only article that has a potential for a reopener is Article 14 Wages.
Appendix B - Classification and Pay Plan
• Made administrative changes to the positions and pay grades listed.
STRATEGIC PLAN CONNECTION:
Organizational Effectiveness
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
Budgeted Yes
If not budgeted, is amendment/transfer attached? N/A
Items are budgeted by applicable Department/Division accounting lines.
PREVIOUS ACTION:
At a regular City Council Meeting on September 14, 2021, Council approved a three-year contract between the City of Cocoa and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 678 Union for the contract term October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2024.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Recommendation
Approve the three-year contract between the City of Cocoa and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 630 Union for the contract term October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027, contingent on LIUNA having a passing ratification vote.