Published: June 17, 2009 11:23 pm         

AFSCME, city management agree upon new 2-year contract

A new two-year contract tentatively was agreed upon Wednesday by city of Enid management and representatives of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The contract calls for a 31Ú2 percent cost-of-living salary increase each year and establishes a system of incentive pay that recognizes and rewards outstanding performance.

City Manager Eric Benson complimented the AFSCME negotiating team for its concern and dedication to the residents of Enid. Zachary Ramsey, labor economist for AFSCME, said city workers have a strong sense of community and maintained a work ethic in negotiations to help get through what is an adversarial process.

“We worked through it with the best interests of the workers and the city of Enid, especially those struggling to get by. The city comes first and foremost,” Ramsey said.

Joey Breeze, president of Enid Local 1136, said the union’s first concern is to recognize they work for the residents of Enid.

“They pay the taxes and they pay our checks,” he said. “We’re here to represent them and do the best we can to serve them.”

Both sides believe the contract will go a long way in doing that.

The last contract negotiations — the first with AFSCME — were done two years ago and took 38 sessions. This year Benson said the contract was worked out in only six sessions. He said there was less time spent on financial considerations than on the process of making contract tenets easier to follow.

The negotiating team included AFSCME members Juanita Gates, Breeze, Mike Goodpasture, Alan Peterson and Ramsey. Negotiating for the city were interim finance director Joan Riley, human resources director Sonya Key, labor attorney Tony Puckett and Benson.

They also developed a one-time cash bonus, changed the management appraisal process and identified areas where employees have been unfairly and unknowingly treated by the city in the performance of their jobs. Ramsey said the group also addressed the system of appeals and discipline to make it function smoother. He said city officials listened and responded to employees’ concerns.

Benson called the union negotiators a management mechanism. He said they meet periodically to discuss problems and try to identify potential problems before they develop.

“The union is another form of management. It can be good or bad, depending on how you work together,” Benson said.

Ramsey said labor and management cooperation is important when there are issues, and he said AFSCME considers the city a partner.

“This contract is between the city of Enid and the workers, not the city and the union because of the good relationship with management. I appreciate working with the city of Enid,” Ramsey said.

The union will begin getting word out to members what is in the contract, and Breeze said the membership should vote on it by late next week. Benson said a special session of the city commission will be called about the same time to consider the contract. Commissioners were briefed on negotiations prior to the Enid City Commission meeting Tuesday.