Geneva aldermen approve new 4-year IBEW contract

GENEVA – Aldermen unanimously approved a four-year contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 196 Aug. 6, covering workers in the streets and fleet division of the Public Works Department.

The contract provides wage increases of 2.25 percent in the first year, 2.5 percent in the second and third years and 2.75 in the fourth year, documents show.

The new contract, which is retroactive to May 1, expires April 30, 2022, documents show.

The wage range in the contract goes from $21.6712 per hour to $44.3258 per hour, depending on an employee’s classification and years of service. The minimum wage scale does not increase, according to the contract.

Information of the estimated cost of the increase to the city was not available.

In addition to the wage increase, the new contract increases the clothing allowance to $400 from $300 per year. It also allows the city to establish schedule changes with a 48-hour notice for various festivals, with the intent of saving overtime costs, documents show.

The contract language also calls for fair share union dues to be paid by employees who have not applied for union membership.

The contract also calls for cooperative efforts to maintain efficiency, such as not stopping work before a lunch or break period begins; reduction of improper use of materials; conservation of tools and equipment; reduction of absenteeism and tardiness; conservation of supplies such as fuel and water.