UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA

           LOCAL 604   LAKELAND,FLORIDA





Contract Update, Water

All Lakeland Water Utilities Bargaining

Unit Employees

 

 

There will be a ratification vote for a renewed Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Lakeland Water Utilities Bargaining Unit on Monday August 31, 2015.

 

 

 

VOTE

Monday August 31, 2015

 

Distribution             7:00AM - 10:00AM

Williams                  11:00AM – 2:30PM

                                                      Glendale                 3:00PM – 7:00PM

 

 

 

 

 

Copies of the CBA Articles will be available for review and UWUA Representatives will be on hand to answer any questions.

 

The new Water contract will be the same as the existing contract except for the changes noted below.



 

Article 14 Grievance Form

Minor changes were made to the form in order to better track its movement through the grievance steps.

 

Article 22 Dues Check Off

Changes were made to the contract language defining the process for how dues are deducted from employee’s checks.

 

Article 25 Educational Assistance

Reimbursement amount was increased from $1400 per year to $1800 per year.

 

Article 33 Meal Allowance

Once a meal is earned and approved you will get $13.75 per meal added to your paycheck.

 

Article 34 Safety Prescription Eyewear Reimbursement

This article was changed from $100 each year to $200 every other year.  All other aspects of the article remained the same.

 

Article 35 Safety Shoes/Footwear

Increased boot allowance from $150 per year to $165 per year.

 

 

Article 36 Health Benefits

Increases in Healthcare premium were capped at no more than13%each year for the entire agreement.  Cost sharing ratio between the City and Employee will remain the same for the entire agreement.  In addition we now have the formula included in our contract that is used to track our health share cost.

 

Article 37 Pension

Contract language added to protect and guaranteed that the City must continue to contribute 19.6% each year for the entire contract. We also protected our rights to negotiate any future changes to our pension plan.

 

Article 42 Non-Standard Shift Provisions

The article remained the same except now there is a minimum three hour call out.  Also one you have completed the call and have signed off or signed out you will be eligible for an additional three hour minimum call out.

 

Article 42A Out of Town Assignments

The article mainly governs the pay rules when working on Out-of-Town.  All will now be paid at time and a half.  This includes all hours worked and driving time. It also states that the City will attempt to balance opportunities for this work among employees.  Includes basic guidelines for how this will happen.

 

Article 43 Premium Pay

All premium pays increased from $.50 to $.75 Effective upon ratification.

 

Article 44 Alternate Rate of Pay

Now 10% if the assignment an entire shift or longer.  If more than ½ shift and less than full shift you will receive 5%.

 

Article 46 Term of Agreement

This is a three year deal with all Articles taking effect upon ratification.  The only exception is Article 45 Wages which will be retroactive back to October 1, 2014. The contract will end on September 30, 2017.

 

 

Article 45 Wages

Year 1 is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2014

Year 1                                                 Year 2                                                 Year 3

1.5% ATB                                            1.5% ATB                                            1.5%ATB

2.5% Merit                                           2.5% Merit                                           2.5% Merit

 

There are several wage range adjustment that will be made and are retroactive back to October 1, 2014.  The positions affected are shown in the table below. These positions will move to the new wage range and the pay will be adjusted up 5% or to step one of their new pay range whichever is higher.

Position Description

Current Pay Grade

New Pay Grade

Laboratory Tech II

38

42

Pretreatment Tech I

36

38

Pretreatment Tech II

38

42

 

Effective September 30, 2015 the City will eliminate steps one and two from each pay grade covered by the CBA.  Bargaining unit employees at steps one or two at the time the steps are eliminated will be moved to step 3 of their respective pay grade.

Effective September 30, 2016 the City will eliminate steps three and four from each pay grade covered by the CBA.  Bargaining unit employees at steps three or four at the time the steps are eliminated will be moved to step 5 of their respective pay grade.

Effective September 30, 2017 the City will eliminate steps five and six from each pay grade covered by the CBA.  Bargaining unit employees at steps five or six at the time the step is eliminated will be moved to step 7 of their respective pay grade.