Youngstown cops reject labor contract granting raises

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Ranking Police Officers became the third city-employee union this month to reject a three-year contract proposal that called for salary increases for its members for the first time in more than five years.

The reason the contract was rejected 19-9 was concern over health care, primarily the removal of monthly insurance caps and the make-up of a health-care committee consisting of representatives from the city’s eight employee unions, said Capt. Kevin Mercer, YPRO chairman.

Concerns about health-care caps were largely behind overwhelming rejections of similar contracts earlier this month with the unions that represent the firefighters and the wastewater employees.

The monthly insurance caps are $100 for single coverage and $200 for family coverage.

The city’s health-insurance policy costs $666 a month for single coverage and $1,678 a month for family coverage. City employees pay 10 percent of that amount — $66.60 for single and $167.80 for family per month.

The proposed agreement with the 42-member ranking police officers union would have eliminated the caps on June 1, 2016.

“It’s the fear of the unknown,” Mercer said. “The union body was concerned the cost could exceed $200 a month. They’re aware the city is on the hook for 90 percent of the plan, but they’re still concerned.”

Read more about the pact in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.