Moses Lake approves new contract with employee union
The contract was approved unanimously.
Shannon Springer, municipal HR director, said subsequent wage increases will depend on the rate of inflation.
"The language is a minimum-maximum (increase) based on CPI," Springer said. "A minimum of two (percent), maximum of four (percent) in the outlying years."
The union represents maintenance, utility, community development and non-supervisory parks maintenance employees.
Mayor Dustin Swartz said city and union officials did extensive revisions in the last contract, and there weren't many changes needed.
"Routine business, more or less, but that's the way we want it to be," he said.
The revised contract provides a stipend for some protective clothing needed for the job; the city will provide other protective equipment. Three jobs were moved to different steps on the salary scale.
The two sides agreed on clarifications to the city's defined benefit retirement system and the standby pay scale.
City officials anticipated a slightly smaller pay increase for 2025; that cost, and some personnel changes, will cost the city about $39,100 in additional wages and benefits, Springer said.
Swartz said the city wants to retain qualified and competent employees and has to take that into account when setting wage rates and conditions, for union and non-union employees alike.
"We want to get it right, and we want to remain competitive," he said. "That's the balance we're trying to find."
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