IBEW satisfied with agreement
The accumulating ice is creating a lot of work for many local crews, including the men and women of Independence Power and Light.
They are on the job today, not only restoring power for those affected by the ice storm, but with a renewed confidence in their job security.
Union members of the Local No. 53 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers recently reached an agreement with the city of Independence for a five-year work agreement that includes pay raises and an employee savings plan.
The Independence City Council approved the agreement Monday by emergency ordinance.
Bruce Van Compernolle, treasurer of the union, said negotiators on both sides worked out most of the big issues.
"Overall, I think IBEW Local 53 is happy with the agreement," he said. "The negotiation process was stressful at times, but we were able to work with them on issues throughout the negotiating process, and got them worked out in the end."
City Manager Robert Heacock in May outlined a plan for modest pay raises for union employees in this year's budget.
"I think it is a positive step forward," Heacock said. "I think it's a positive sign of the city's commitment to its employees."
Last year, city officials said the money wasn't there for employee raises for firefighters, police officers, or steel, water or electrical workers.
Mayor Ron Stewart has gone on record several times to explain the city's dilemma last year.
"Last year we were very sincere ... we just didn't have the money," Stewart said. "At no time did I or anyone on this council feel the employees weren't deserving."
The electricians' agreement was the last work agreement between the city and the bargaining agencies.
"This takes a load off of us, not to have to deal with contracts as often as we have," Council Member Don Reimal said.
The electrical workers' raises are best explained as 3 percent, effective each November until 2006, followed by a 4-percent raise in 2007 and 2008.
In year two, employees can begin investing into a savings plan, which the city will match, at one-half of one percent of their pay. The city will increase the available matching funds for the next three years at 1 percent, one-half percent, and 1 percent until 2008.
The union managed to include three new job classifications into its work agreement, namely district planner, specialized computer personnel trained on the SCADA system, and warehouse clerks.
"We haven't had an agreement go through since they voted to have us represent them," Van Compernolle said. "We've been working to get something on that ... we ended up including them in the main agreement."
The union compromised on the buyback policy for personal business leave and accepted the city's cross-the-board language.
"We ended up going with the language that is pretty generic to what the other bargaining units have agreed to," Van Compernolle said. "It will only be paid if the council agrees to it in the budget."
Van Compernolle said despite a successful negotiation, the city's retirement plan, known as LAGERS, remains an ongoing issue for all city employees.
"Personally, we feel (LAGERS is) below level for the city employees," Van Compernolle said.
The local union of IBEW has about 150 members, paid out of the enterprise fund generated by Independence Power and Light.
Van Compernolle said the local employee unions have moved forward over the years, and in doing so, have drawn closer together.
"We've seen an increase in solidarity among the unions in the city of Independence," he said. "In many ways, the city has helped the bargaining units unite."
To reach David Tanner e-mail david.tanner@examiner.net or call (816) 350-6324.
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