Friday, January 16, 2015
YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s firefighters union approved a contract that includes salary increases of 2.5 percent that kicks in later this month and 1 percent next January, and removes caps on their contributions to health-care premiums starting in June 2016.
The contract, approved by a 70-7 vote by the union Wednesday, is similar to one rejected 91-6 by the union in September.
The primary reason the proposal was turned down four months ago was the removal of the caps.
Firefighters, like other city employees, contribute 10 percent of their health-care premiums, but the caps had them paying no more than $100 a month for single coverage and $200 for family coverage.
Every other union in the city — except the police patrol officers who had their contract settled through binding arbitration — has agreed to the health-care caps.
The original proposal had the removal of the caps take effect in September 2015. This new deal has the caps removal take effect in June 2016.
Council will vote Wednesday on the contract and the board of control will do the same a day later.
For the complete story, read Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com