Friday, 06 August 2010 04:57

Ione Approves MOU Modifications Between City, Bargaining Units

slide1-ione_approves_mou_modifications_between_city_bargaining_units.pngAmador County - The Ione City Council approved modifications to its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city and its various bargaining units and unrepresented employees Tuesday evening. Those affected by the changes approved at the meeting include the Police Chief, Ione Police Officers Association (IPOA), the Service Employees International Union Local #1021 (SEIU), and unrepresented employees under the Management and Confidential Unit. The modifications to the MOU are in response to the city’s “structural budget deficit” and are an attempt to encourage cost savings and reductions for the rest of the fiscal year. Flexible Furloughs and Sick Leave Payout were two of the options negotiated and approved that are specific to the Ione Police Officers Association. The employees represented by the IPOA and also the Police Chief will be required to take 57.25 hours of unpaid leave between August 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. The hours will be spread out over the year as a 3 percent salary reduction and will be operated under a “use or lose” plan. For employees hired prior to November 1, 2008, they must decide whether to opt into an unlimited accrual of sick leave in lieu no later than August 20, 2010. The total costs savings negotiated with the IOPA equal $21,247. The Service Employees International Union Local #1021 also agreed to a negotiated furlough program in which the City’s Building Inspector/Public Works Project Manager will be required to take 384 hours of unpaid leave between July 25, 2010 and November 13, 2010. This allows for 16 hours of work per week for the entire 16 week period. Modifications for the Management and Confidential employees include continuation of the voluntary furlough program and a $50 city match cap per pay period for those employees who are eligible for the medical in lieu payment for non-participation in the city’s medical insurance program. As for cost saving measures, which equal approximately $65,445, City Manager Kim Kerr, stated that “these are the initial things we can do right now” but the city will continue to discuss potential options throughout the fiscal year. New contract negotiations with each bargaining unit will be due by the date of contract expiration on June 30, 2011. The city council also approved modifications to the contract between the City of Ione and the City Manager. These included no city match for the deferred compensation plan for non-participation in the city’s medical insurance program as well as the personal responsibility of the City Manager to pay her portion of the Old Age Survivor Disability Insurance contribution, bringing the total amount of cost savings for the City of Ione to approximately $81,889. Story by Judee Schmidt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.