Lima mayor describes pact with workers as 'fair to all'

4/2/2002

LIMA, Ohio - Mayor David Berger said yesterday that he's pleased with the tentative agreement ratified by unionized municipal employees Sunday.

"I believe the contract settlement is fair to all parties. It's fair to the city and fair to the employees and fair to the citizens of the community," Mr. Berger said.

The formal contract will take at least two weeks to draft before it can be presented to City Council and signed by the city and Local 1002 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, he said.

The union's 132 members include street repair crews, employees in the city's water department, and secretaries. The workers had planned to go on strike yesterday unless a contract could be reached.

But after 12 hours of negotiations, the biggest hurdle - health care costs - was resolved when member employees agreed upon a lesser wage package in order to contribute to the city's health care fund, Mr. Berger said. The exact numbers have not been released.