Council postpones vote on raises for city workers (yes that is MY raise)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10599886

Published Tuesday March 31, 2009
Council postpones vote on raises for city workers
BY MAGGIE O'BRIEN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The Omaha City Council postponed voting Tuesday on labor agreements with two of the city's civilian unions, saying that pay raises included in the contracts were inappropriate given the current weak economy.

With many private companies freezing wages and laying off workers, the 2.75 percent raises are "a concern when everyone is suffering," said Councilman Chuck Sigerson.

Members of Omaha City Employees Local 251 and the City Functional Employees Group were to receive the raises in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

By postponing the issue, the council avoided a potentially controversial vote a week before next week's primary election for city officeholders.

Council members also voiced concern about a contract term that decreases wages for some of the city's part-time employees.

Steve Kerrigan, the city's acting labor relations director , said the city and union officials would likely meet with council members in the coming weeks to discuss the contract.

"We'll go back to the council, see what their concerns are, try to answers what questions they have and go from there," Kerrigan said.