Pro-Tech Employees Accept Additional Concessions

A pay cut, unpaid holidays, healthcare changes, increased employee contributions for health care premiums, and mirroring health care in retirement are some of the concessions agreed to by the City of Royal Oak’s Professional and Technical Association employees.   

The City Commission on Monday approved the tentative agreement which covers the two year period of July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013.  The Association voted to approve the agreement on June 30.

Members of the Association have agreed to accept an immediate 2.5 percent reduction in pay; a wage freeze in the second year; moving all members to one health care plan with higher deductibles and more out of pocket costs; mirroring health care at retirement with health care for active employees; decreasing the pension multiplier; 20 percent health care contribution for employees hired on or after July 1, 2011; and returning to a 40 hour work week.  

The Professional and Technical Association employees are the first group to agree to concessions for the next two years. The Association’s previous Agreement which expired on June 30, 2011, also included concessions.  “ProTech was the first bargaining unit to accept concessions last year and they are first again this year” said City Manager Don Johnson.  

“I want to thank our Professional and Technical employees for being leaders and stepping up with a second round of contract concessions,“ said Mayor James Ellison.  “I know this is a big sacrifice for these employees at a time when their own costs are continuing to rise.  

The health care changes they accepted are significant since they will help reduce the City’s current costs and provide future savings for retiree health care.   This, along with the other concessions these employees have already taken is exactly what we need from all our employees” he said.

Professional and Technical Association members include the professional engineering and information systems employees, planners, appraiser, administrative assistants, senior citizens’ activities coordinator and police records supervisor.

The City has begun or will soon begin negotiations with all other bargaining units on successor Agreements, as all Agreements expired on June 30, 2011.

Other City bargaining groups that previously agreed to concessions include Executive Department Heads, Department Head/Deputy Department Head Association, Service Employees International Union (Department of Public Service), and Local #2396 of Michigan AFSCME Council 25 (clerical, librarian and building department employees).

Contact:
Donald E. Johnson
City Manager
Ph. (248)
246-3200