City And Corvallis Regional Communications Center Agree on New Three Year Contract

Photo by: Tim King

(CORVALLIS) - The Corvallis City Council has approved a new three year labor agreement between the city and the Corvallis Regional Communications Center Association.

CRCCA members had previously ratified the agreement on June 8, 2006. The new contract covers the period from July 2006 thorough June 2009.

Mayor Helen Berg said, " this contract has many positive aspects which will benefit both the employee and the city for many years to come."

The Association elected to change unit representation, they previously had been represented by AFSCME., therefore the positions represented by the Association have not had a wage adjustment since June 2004 and had fallen significantly behind comparator Oregon communities in total compensation (wages, leaves, and benefits). At the same time, the positions are funded though user charges to other agencies using City provided 9-1-1 services.

To resolve this problem, the City and CRCCA agreed to a number of substantial changes aimed at both maintaining equity in the long term and controlling rapidly rising costs such as medical premiums.

Under the agreement, the City will re-establish its pickup of the employee's contributions to their state retirement program.

The cost of living increase in July 2006 will be 4%, and 3.5% in 2007 and 2008.

Both Public Safety Dispatchers and Dispatch Leadworker had fallen further behind comparator positions, to resolve this there is a catchup provision of 1-2% 2007 and 2008. The shift differential will be phased out over the term of the contract and extra duty pay eliminated. A bilingual incentive and trainer pay in recognition of the additional work involved in those assignments were added.

Starting January 1, 2007 CRCCA members will also have substantial changes to their health benefits.

The existing medical plans will have larger deductibles, copays and a four-tier drug plan that encourages the use of lower cost generics and preferred brands. The changes lower premiums for these plans and the more expensive preferred provider plan will also require a larger proportion of employee contribution.

Other changes include implementation of a new wellness program and incentives for participation, a new attendance incentive program, a reduction in the sick leave cap, and caps on educational reimbursement benefits to the tuition levels for Oregon public universities.

Many of the changes in the agreement are consistent with a 24/7 operation, holidays were eliminated and replaced with a holiday-in-lieu vacation benefit.

Overtime was changed to a per shift basis, and as well what constitutes hours worked.

Changes were also made to the shift rollover process, which will benefit both the City and the Association.