Boardman trustees approve union pact

BOARDMAN — Township trustees unanimously approved a three-year pact tonight with a new 18-member union.

The contract, which runs from the beginning of this year through 2009, calls for raises of 1.25 percent this year and increases of 1.5 percent and 1.75 percent in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

It also calls for employees to pay 10 percent of their health insurance premium with no cap.

“This is the first contract where we were able to use our negotiator, and I think it worked out well for all sides,” said Trustee Robyn Gallitto.

It’s been more than two years since those employees have received any pay increase, she said.

Late last year, the township hired Clemans and Nelson, which has offices in Cleveland, to assist with union negotiations.

This is the first contract for the group, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2498.

Members voted to unionize last year.

The group includes receptionists, maintenance employees, a custodian, secretaries, police records clerks, employees of the fiscal officer’s office, a crime analyst and social service managers in the police department.

Their pay, before the contract, ranged from $10 per hour for the night police department custodian to $16.06 per hour for social service managers in the police department.