Members ratify Alameda pact

City gives approval on March 7

Local 1245 members ratified a tentative Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Alameda on Feb. 21 by a vote of 20-5.

The City Council, meeting on March 7, approved the MOU after General Manager Girish Balachandran, Local 1245 Assistant Business Manager Ray Thomas and Business Representative Al Fortier spoke in favor of the pact.

The agreement calls for general wage increases of 5%, 3%, 2%, and 2% over a 4-year term. It also calls for the City to contribute full Kaiser and Blue Shield premiums in 2012.

In 2013, the City will pay for 85% of the increases in medical premiums, and in 2014 and thereafter, the city will pay for 75% of the increases in premiums.

Effective Jan. 1, 2013, IBEW employees will pay a 1.868% cost-share toward the City’s employer retirement contribution to Cal-PERS.

Serving on the union’s bargaining committee were Mark Regan and Fernando Morales, along with Thomas and Fortier.