Batavia police unions avoid layoffs

Two Batavia police unions have agreed to concessions expected to save the city about $180,000 next year, officials announced Thursday.

The concessions include the deferment of a 4.5 percent wage increase, the elimination of four days worth of holiday pay and reductions in uniform allowances.

The changes were agreed to by the city's police sergeant and police officers unions, two of the city's six labor groups. In exchange, the city has promised to avoid layoffs in those unions through the end of 2010; negotiations with the remaining unions are ongoing.

"These sacrifices show the leadership of Batavia's police officers and underline the fact that we're all in this together," City Administrator Bill McGrath said in a statement.

Batavia's overall staff has diminished nearly 10 percent through retirements, unfilled vacancies and reductions since 2008, according to the city.

"There's no question that 2010 will be a difficult year for the city financially," McGrath said. "But it is our hope that we will be able to get through the year with no further staff reductions."