Aurora settles with second union group

Aurora has reached a tentative three-year contract agreement with a second labor union that provides members with average 1.67 percent annual raises through 2011.

The pact is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2008. It provides raises for the 210 employees in Local 3298 in the first and third years of the agreement but freezes salaries for the 2009-2010 year.

Chief Administrative Services Officer Alex Alexandrou said the agreement will go before the city council for approval as soon as Nov. 24.

Employees covered under the contract include full- and part-time clerical workers, inspectors, building maintenance staff, telecommunications operators, court detention technicians, customer service representatives, accountants and engineering technicians.

The pact calls for 3 percent raises retroactive to Oct. 1, 2008 and a 2 percent increase effective Oct. 1, 2010.

Local 3298 President Krista Heinke said the contract is a bit of good news after the union saw 14 members laid off and 30 demoted.

"Overall, I'll tell you it is a fair contract because both sides managed to come to good terms and end up on good terms," Heinke said. "We'll be meeting with the mayor's office next week to discuss alternatives to the future layoffs that we know are coming."

Health insurance for the life of the contract includes a separate employee contribution schedule for HMO and PPO effective Jan. 1, 2010, Alexandrou said. Employees were paying 2.75 percent of their gross pay regardless of their choice of insurance.

Under the new contract, employee contributions would range from 2.5 percent of gross pay for single HMO coverage to 3.25 percent of gross pay for family coverage. PPO coverage will range from 3 percent of gross pay for single coverage up to 3.75 percent of gross pay for family coverage.

PPO prescription co-pays also were increased, as well as PPO deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums both in and out of network, Alexandrou said.

Retiree health insurance also was negotiated. Newly hired employees who retire with 20 or more years of city service will pay 40 percent of the prevailing premium, as adjusted from time to time.

Last month aldermen approved a new four-year contract with AFSCME Local 1514 that provides members an average annual 1.93 percent raise through 2012. AFSCME Local 1514 includes public works, water production and water and sewer maintenance employees.