By JOSEPH KELLARD
The six-year contract calls for salary increases of 3 percent the first year, which starts on July 1, and ranging from 3 to 4 percent the following five years.
"We worked hard to come up with an agreement that is fair to the employees of Long Beach," City Manager Charles Theofan said at the meeting, which was attended by about 75 employees wearing white T-shirts bearing the CSEA logo.
CSEA employees — who represent all city departments except police and fire personnel, and exempt employees such as the city manager and the corporation counsel — voted 197-2 in favor of the contract. "We believe the contract is not only fair but long overdue," said union President John Mooney.
In negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement, which was settled on June 8, the CSEA agreed to require new employees to work for six months before they become eligible for health insurance.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Theofan agreed with Councilman Lenny Remo’s call to increase the amount the city sets aside each year to reimburse employees for educational or college courses from $2,500 to $10,000. That works out to approximately $700 each, up from $300.
"I believe that in the past, they haven’t always been treated fairly," Theofan said of CSEA employees. "We feel that this contract accomplishes that goal."
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
