A fact finder recommends no pay raise over the next three years for Youngstown’s ranking police officers union

By David Skolnick

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

A fact finder is recommending the city’s ranking police officers union’s 42 members receive no salary increase over the next three years.

The union – which represents 30 detective sergeants, eight lieutenants and four captains – was seeking considerably more.

The union wanted the city to pick up the 12.25 percent pension payment paid by its members stating the city does this for nonunion employees and for other police department unions, according to a 23-page report from John F. Lenehan, the fact finder assigned to this matter.

Lenehan rejected that request, writing the $450,000 to $460,000 cost to do so “would far exceed the average cost of wage increases both internally and in comparable cities around the state.”

Also, the union wanted 1 percent annual raises for this year, retroactive to Jan. 1, as well as 2018 and 2019 while the city asked for no pay raises for the three years. The fact finder recommended no pay raise for any of the three years, but wrote that discussions of a salary increase in 2019 could be discussed in November 2018.

“While the financial condition of the city is dire, it is not hopeless,” Lenehan wrote.

City council will consider the report at its Wednesday meeting.

Speaking on behalf of the city administration, Deputy Law Director Rebecca Gerson said, “The city is pleased with the fact-finder report, and we recommend city council accept the report at its meeting.”

Detective Sgt. Ron Barber, president of the union, couldn’t be reached Friday by The Vindicator to comment. It isn’t known when the union will meet to vote on the report. Gerson said the union must vote by Thursday.

If either side rejects the deal, the matter goes to binding arbitration.

The fact finder also recommended an increase in the ranking officers’ annual clothing allowance from $1,050 to $1,085. The union wanted $1,200 a year per employee while the city wanted a freeze.

Also, Lenehan sided with the union on keeping the health care employee contribution at 10 percent. The city wanted the employee contribution to increase to 11 percent in 2019.

Meanwhile, the city has a tentative two-year contract with its 70-member wastewater union that includes no pay increases.

The union’s bargaining team is recommending membership approve the proposed deal during a Wednesday vote, said Clifton Hardin, union president.

“We understand the city is in financial stress right now,” he said. “We’re just looking for an extension of our current contract.”

Gerson said the administration is recommending council approve the wastewater union contract at Wednesday’s meeting.