Toledo City Council rejects pact with court supervisors

5/4/2011

Toledo City Council voted Tuesday against a three-year contract with eight supervisors in the Municipal Court clerk's office.

The agreement, negotiated by Municipal Court Clerk Vallie Bowman-English and UAW Local 12, proposed freezing wages in 2011 and 2012 and granting a 2 percent increase effective January, 2013. It would have continued the city's pickup of 8.5 percent of members' pension contribution, although new hires would have to pay the entire cost of their pension contribution.

Medical coverage would have stayed the same. Since October, the employees have paid $25 a month for a single, $40 for a single plus one person, and $55 for a family. The city incorrectly reported Monday that employees did not pay premiums.

Councilmen Rob Ludeman, Adam Martinez, Joe McNamara, George Sarantou, Steven Steel, Tom Waniewski, Wilma Brown, D. Michael Collins, Phillip Copeland, and Mike Craig voted no. Lindsay Webb abstained and Paula Hicks-Hudson was not present.

After a 40-minute executive session, Mr. McNamara said the city could not continue to fund pension plans for employees. Because council rejected the agreement, it will go to a fact finder. Council asked for clarification if UAW Local 12 is a strike or nonstrike unit.

Council also voted 9-2 in favor of spending $132,000 from the Toledo Athletic Commission Trust Fund to open five city pools and the splash pad at Savage Park.

Ms. Brown and Mr. Copeland voted no because the list of pools does not include a central-city location. The pools to open by June 7 are Willys Park, 1375 Hillcrest Ave., in Toledo's west end, Jamie Farr, 2200 Summit St., in the north end, Pickford, 3000 Medford Drive, in South Toledo; Wilson, 3252 Otto St., near Stickney and East Central avenues, and Navarre, 1001 White St., on the east side. The splash pad is at 645 Vance St.