Trumbull panel approves contract

WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners have approved a labor contract with the 169 unionized workers at Jobs and Family Services.
The members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 458 will get 4-percent raises the first two years of the 21/2-year contract and a 2-percent raise for the remaining six months. The old contract expired Dec. 31.
The workers have also accepted a health plan which requires monthly premium co-payments. Management employees at JFS will be switched to the new plan in June, said James Keating, head of human resources.
In the first year of the new contract, pay rates will range from $9.40 for a clerk with no experience to $14.85 for a caseworker with 25 years.
Other talks: The county is engaged in negotiations with unions representing 28 employees at the 911 dispatch center, whose contract also expired Dec. 31.
A fact finder is expected to produce a report this week for talks with deputy sheriffs and corrections officers, who have been working without a contract since Sept. 1.
Michael O'Brien has been named chairman of commissioners.