IBEW Local 1547 (Anchorage AK) negotiates successful contract covering Fairbanks city employees

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City Council to convene for new year

By DIANA CAMPBELL, Staff Writer

Monday, January 10, 2005

The Fairbanks City Council will grapple with a labor contract, land sales and celebration plans for Alaska's 50th birthday tonight along with the agenda staple of liquor license applications and transfers.

Heading the list is city Mayor Steve Thompson's ordinance to approve a contract extension for city employees covered under the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1547.

The ordinance allows the mayor to enter into a three-year contract with the IBEW.

The contract calls for a new tier of personal leave accrual for employees hired after the date of the contract. Employees hired after the agreement will accrue 160 hours per year, up to two years; 200 hours for two to five years; and 240 hour for over five years.

Other changes include:

* IBEW employees working for the city before the new contract agreement will get 240 hours of leave.

* Also, the city will contribute $800 a month toward health insurance. Remaining costs will be paid by the employee.

*A 3 percent pay increase to employees for 2005, except to positions that have been frozen. Additional pay raises will be based on the Anchorage Consumer Price index.

The IBEW business agent could not be reached Sunday for comment.

Thompson said that contract covers office staff at City Hall. He expects the ordinance to be accepted by the city council.

"That's (the ordinance) to show the employees that the council is behind this proposal," Thompson said.

The City Council will also hear from Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker about the Chena Riverbend Project, and aggressive remake of land located near the Carlson Center into a business, residential, tourist and recreational attraction.

The City Council will consider an ordinance that accepts the Fairbanks North Star Borough's offer of $400,000 to purchase two city tracts of land near the Mitchell Expressway. The borough wants the land in order to relocate ball fields that will have to be moved from the river property to make room for the project.

The council will also look at whether to change conditions of a conveyance of city parks riverfront property to allow the Chena project.

In other city action, the council will also look at adopting the 2005 capital appropriations fund budget.

The council's work session starts at 6 p.m. in council chambers in City Hall, 800 Cushman St., with the council meeting following at 7 p.m. Both are open to the public and will accept public comment.

Diana Campbell is the city/borough reporter and can be reached at 459-7523 or dcampbell@newsminer.com .











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