City of Beaverton Members Ratify Contract

Members Maintain Health Care, Staffing and Services

City of Beaverton workers have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract.
 
“We know that in these difficult economic times, everyone has to come together and find solutions that are best for their communities,” Lawrence Arnbrister, a city building Inspector who heads the union, said after more than 80% of the members turned out to vote. “In Beaverton, we agreed to forgo a raise this year to ensure the important services we provide continue.”

The city’s budget has been approved for this fiscal year and maintains the staff necessary to continue current levels of municipal services. Savings from vacancies have allowed the city to shift resources to focus on making government greener, more efficient and more responsive to the needs of city residents. 

For example, given the economic squeeze many Beaverton residents are feeling, more community members than ever are visiting the city’s library.
 
"With an unprecedented increase in library usage, it's incredibly important to have the staff to meet the needs of our patrons,” said Tony LeMay, a circulation aide and union steward. We are willing to share the sacrifice necessitated by the current economy, although it's clear many of our workers will feel the pinch of giving up a raise this year, especially those of us making ends meet on part time wages.”

City managers are also forgoing a raise this year in a show of solidarity and cooperation that reflects the newly positive relationship between City Hall and workers following years of tension prior to the election of Denny Doyle as mayor.

City of Beaverton workers provide many essential services, including all library services, maintenance of street, water and sewer infrastructure, processing of passports applications and providing support to developing businesses.

Below are some of the highlights of the 3-year contract:

Health Insurance
• No changes to current health care plans (100% paid, no-deductible coverage for Kaiser and ODS)
• Kaiser plan keeps fully paid premiums for the term of the agreement
• No increases the first year and small increases on ODS premium share in 2nd and 3rd years of the contract
• Part-timers on the Kaiser employee-only plan will keep health care premiums frozen based on the 2006-2007 rates

COLA
• No COLA first year of contract
• 2nd year COLA annual average West Region CPI Dec. 2007 - Dec. 2009 (min. 1.5%,  max. 4%)
• 3rd year COLA annual average West Region CPI ending Dec. 2010 (min. 1.5%, max. 4%)

Time Off
• 1 additional day off for employees through 10 years of service
• 2 additional days off for employees 11 plus years of service

Other Wins
• 15 minute Union orientation on City time
• Lifted comp time cap to 100 hours
• Increased boot allowance to $125 per year
• Increased bilingual differential to 3%

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