Town reaches agreement with its employee union
By Nathan R. Huff
The town and its largest union of employees reached a contract agreement on June 19, the crux of which is an average 10 percent salary increase over the next two years.
Management employees and confidentials, the next two largest groups of town employees, also reached a two-year agreement with the same salary increase as the Town Employee Association's (TEA).
Mayor Steve Blanton said he was pleased with the results, which culminated two months of negotiations. "We want to let them know they're appreciated--a lot of the town's employees have been here through the down times," Blanton said. "But at the same time, we do have limitations."
The agreement reached with the TEA went into effect on June 25, giving those represented by the union a 5 percent increase. TEA members will receive another 2 percent raise in January 2001, and finally another 5 percent next June.
Knapp said negotiations were fair, if difficult. "It was pretty much like last year," he said. "Everything is put on the table; no games are played."
TEA president Debra Caldwell said the union's members passed the contract by an 80 percent majority. "We're happy with the contract, and management is happy," said Caldwell.
Other big changes in the new contract include an optional vision insurance plan, an increase in the number of vacation hours employees can cash out and a revamping of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
The town now pays both the employer and employee portions of each PERS account. Under the new contract, employees will pay their own 7 percent; however, the town will refund the equivalent dollar amount to employees' salaries. The overall effect on salaries will be minimal, according to town manager Dave Knapp.
Confidentials, town employees who work closely with management and are not represented by the TEA, reached virtually the same agreement. The only major change is the adjustment of benefits for confidentials, who traditionally received better packages than TEA represented positions. TEA and confidential benefit packages are now the same. Confidentials continue to receive a 5 percent salary differential, which Knapp said is intended to make up for their lack of union representation.
Management employees, which include department heads, middle managers and police sergeants, signed a one-year agreement for the same increase as TEA employees will receive next year. Several job-title changes will also occur.
One employee whose salary remains to be reviewed is town clerk Marian Cosgrove. Cosgrove left her normal transcribing seat to address the council on June 19, on what she believes is a long history of being underpaid and unacknowledged. Cosgrove, who receives one paycheck for her elected duties as clerk and another as a regular town employee, makes a total of $27,000 a year. When she started 12 years ago she made $25,000, less than the lowest starting salary in the clerk's office.
"The town code gives you the authority to evaluate and compensate all employees," Cosgrove told the council. "None of this has happened to me."
Cosgrove found sympathetic ears on the council. All three council members present agreed Cosgrove was long overdue for an evaluation and raise.
"I think it has been neglected and it's time we step up to the plate," Mayor Steve Blanton later said. "She definitely deserves a higher level of compensation."
The council plans to schedule an evaluation for Cosgrove in the near future.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
