Library Trustees Ratify Contract with Clerical/Maintenance Employees

YOUNGSTOWN (April 25, 2007 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) -- The Board of Trustees, Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, ratified a new three-year contract with the Library's clerical and maintenance union. The contract covers 120 Library employees.

The current contract with Service Employees International Union District 1199 CMT expires on April 30, 2007. The bargaining unit ratified the contract in a meeting Friday evening, April 20.

A modified version of Interest-Based Bargaining was used in reaching this agreement. In this process, representatives from Library administration and the union can fully discuss issues and reach agreement.

Among the highlights of the agreement are:

A wage scale which was formerly cent-based was converted to a percentage-based scale for the first year of the contract, resulting in an increase of at least 3% for all employees in that union, with the increase varying due to step placement on the new wage scale. In the second and third year of the contract, the new wage scale is increased by 3%.

Health insurance was a significant piece of this agreement. “The new contract includes options for traditional health plans while also introducing a new consumer-driven plan and encouraging a culture to wellness,” says Carlton A. Sears, Library Director. “The rising cost of health insurance is a serious consideration for organizations today, particularly service organizations such as the Library. Our base of income is relatively fixed and a large portion of our budget is dependent on the state budget. New options in our health-care package are directed at containing costs in both the near and long term while continuing to provide employees access.”

The Library will offer optional health-risk assessments which will guide the design of a wellness program in an effort to reduce the need for insurance claims. The new contract also contains a provision that spouses of employees participate in the health-insurance program of their employer, when possible.

In summary, these health care options are available to employees:

Plan C PPO, a high-deductible plan, for which the rates remain stable throughout the term of the contract, with employees cost-sharing the premium at the current rate of 7% single and 10% family;

Plan B PPO, a low-deductible plan, for which cost-sharing remains the same in year 1 of the contract (7% single and 10% family) and rises to 10% single and 12% family in year 2 and 10% single (same) and 13% family in year 3.

Health Savings Account, a high-deductible consumer-driven plan, with the current cost-sharing rate (7% single and 10% family).

In other action, the Board approved purchase of property behind Sebring Library, which will allow for expanded parking. The current Sebring lot offers very few parking spaces. Cost of the property is $29,500.

Trustees reviewed and approved various updated Library policies, a standard procedure.

Trustees also revised criteria for several of the bequest funds found in The Library Foundation.