Mahoning commissioners approve new pact with sanitary engineering workers

Mahoning commissioners approve new pact with sanitary engineering workers

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County’s new contract with sanitary engineering department workers calls for random alcohol and drug testing.

The county commissioners approved the three-year pact with the Mahoning County Sanitary Engineering Employees’ Union today.

It is retroactive to April 1, 2007, and calls for a 2 percent raise in the employees’ base pay as of that date, plus 3 percent annual pay increases.

The agreement covers 77 employees who maintain the county’s network of sewers and maintain and operate the department’s sewage treatment plants.

They earn between $13.50 to $14 an hour for an entry-level laborer up to about $23 an hour for the highest paid foreman.

New in this contract is a provision for random alcohol and drug testing for all employees, not just those with commercial driver’s licenses, said Sanitary Engineer Joseph Warino. “We don’t want to put our people out on the road if they’re going to be in an impaired situation,” he explained.

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.