Local 1245 members in the Electric Unit ratified a new agreement with the City of Redding on Sept. 7. The Redding City Council approved the agreement 4-1 at its Sept. 20 meeting.
The agreement comes after four months of negotiations that included state-mediated negotiations on Aug. 25, 2011.
Bargaining had become more contentious as the Laborers union recently negotiated a 4-year agreement that leaves all City of Redding Police (sworn officers) paying their full 9% member share of Cal-PERS (formerly EPMC) effective July 10, 2011. That pact provided one general wage increase of 2% during the term.
Local 1245 was able to reach a mediated table agreement on Aug. 25, which was discussed by Assistant Business Manager Ray Thomas with the distribution crews and power plant employees on Aug. 29-30.
The term of the agreement is three years.
General wage increases of 6% on Sept. 18, 2011 and Sept. 18 , 2012, and 3% on Sept. 18, 2013 will apply to the following classifications:
Power Plant Equip. Operator
Substation Maintenance Wrkr.
Power Plant Maint. Mech.
Power Plant Operator
Electrician
I.E. Tech.
Linemen
Power Plant Relief Op.
Lineman (training rate)
Lineman (certified rate)
T-Man
Wrkg. Frmn. Elect. Sub Station
Wrkg. Frmn. Line
Wrkg. Frmn. PP Maint.
Wrkg. Frmn. PP Ops.
T-Man (certified rate)
Wrkg. Frmn. Line (training rate)
Wrkg. Frmn. Line (certified rate)
Control/Automation Tech.
General wage increases of 3% on Sept. 18, 2011, Sept. 18 , 2012, and Sept. 18, 2013 will apply to the following classifications:
Line Clearance (Utility Arborists)
General wage increases of 1% on Sept. 18, 2011 and Sept. 18 , 2012, and 3% on Sept. 18, 2013 will apply to the following classifications:
Warehouse Lead Worker (Distribution and Power Plant)
Warehouse Worker (Distribution and Power Plant)
Equipment Service Worker
Employer-Paid Medical Contribution (EPMC)
Employees pay former 7% EPMC as follows:
2011: 3.5% (first full pay-period following ratification)
2012: +3.5% or full 7%
Pension
2% @ 60 CalPERS for employees hired following ratification.
Health and Welfare
Effective 1-1-13 there is a new base plan (higher Deductible, OOPM, Out of Network costs). Current 90/10 premium split remains through term with employees paying the difference to a higher benefit plan.
A new opt-out provision allows employees with alternative coverage to not participate.
Other
A boot allowance of $300 applies every other year.
$300. Every other year
Doubles annual accrual from 80 to 160 hours for Compensatory Time Off.
Ad-Hoc Negotiations will deal with meal language, and also with classification specifications and wage rates for Power Plant Maintenance Mechanic, I.E. Tech. and Metering Electrician.
Upon ratification the IBEW agrees to drop complaints with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).