Carlsbad council to vote on two union contracts

By: BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer
Raises, extra health insurance payments included in deals | Monday, March 3, 2008 10:54 PM PST ∞

CARLSBAD -- Firefighters, clerks, maintenance crew members and many other rank-and-file city workers are poised to gain raises of 3 percent or better under two tentative contracts before the City Council tonight.

Julie Clark, Carlsbad's human resources director, said both the firefighters union and the union that represents clerical staff and public works employees got good deals this year.

"Particularly in this budget climate, we felt these contracts are very fair to the employees and to the city," she said.

Often considered one of the region's more well-off municipal governments, the city of Carlsbad has millions in its reserves and is expecting tax revenue to grow somewhat in the coming year.

Other local cities don't have it so good. Officials are slashing city budgets and eliminating pay raises because of worries about state funding and the slowing of the region's economy. Escondido is reportedly proposing a one-time bonus payment instead of raises this year.

However, in Carlsbad -- where the city hasn't laid-off employees in many years -- raises are once again planned.

The first contract deal the council will consider tonight is with the 75-member Carlsbad Firefighters' Association. The second is with the 364-member Carlsbad City Employees' Association, which represents a wide range of city workers.

"I personally was happy with (the agreement)," said wastewater operator Michael Lichtenfels, who serves on the employee association's board.

Among the high points, he said Monday, are the proposed increases in standby pay and in health care premium coverage.

The three-year contract contains raises of 3.2 percent this year, next year and in 2010. The raises, plus the corresponding increases in retirement benefit expenses, are expected to cost the city $820,000. Increasing the city's contribution to the health care premiums is expected to cost the city $210,000.

Meanwhile, the firefighters and the city have reached a two-year contract deal.

It calls for a 3 percent raise this year, and a 3.4 percent raise next year.

"It's an OK deal," Rick Fisher, president of the Carlsbad Firefighters' Association, said Monday.

He added that he didn't want to say much more until after tonight's council meeting, which is set to start at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The firefighters union raise, plus the related benefit expenses, is expected to cost the city an extra $460,000 this year.

The two unions got the same raise in 2007 -- 3.5 percent.

There's a third union group in Carlsbad -- the 140-member police officers union. The police reached a two-year contract deal with the city in early February that calls for a 5 percent raises this year and next year.

-- Contact staff writer Barbara Henry at (760) 901-4072 or bhenry@nctimes.com.