Warren workers get raises in exchange for 5 percent health care contributions

WARREN

Warren City Council has approved new contracts for most city workers that raises pay by 1.5 percent per year for each of the next three years. But it won’t cost the city a thing.

That’s because the contracts also include changes in the city’s health-care program at a level that will offset the increased pay, said Auditor David Griffing and Brian Massucci, the city’s human resources director.

Massucci said he was not prepared to give out exact figures for the cost of implementing the pay increases and health-care changes because negotiations will continue next week with three bargaining units not yet under contract. The three units represent about 50 of the city’s 432 workers.

The main reason for making the change is to avoid the distinction of being one of the only government entities in the area that still does not require employees to pay a part of their health-care premium, Griffing said.

“We were probably the last one without a contribution, so [employees] were willing to contribute because everyone else does,” Griffing said.

Those contributions will result in each employee paying about 5 percent of the cost of his or her plan.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.