Givebacks likely to save Cuyahoga County $1M

CLEVELAND (AP) — Officials say a new union agreement will save Ohio’s largest county more than $1 million.

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald says in Cleveland that the deal with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees includes unprecedented union concessions.

The Plain Dealer reports that more than 1,200 union members in the county’s work force have agreed to pay 10 percent of their health-care costs. The deal announced this week also includes a wage freeze and other givebacks.

FitzGerald says the concessions were needed to reduce the need for further layoffs. More than 120 union members were cut two years ago.