Oregon approves contract with A.F.S.C.M.E.

        Oregon City Council recently approved a contract with Local 755 and Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (A.F.S.C.M.E.) AFL-CIO.
        The previous collective bargaining agreement between the city and Local 755 and Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State, County and Municipal (A.F.S.C.M.E.) AFL-CIO expired on June 30 of this year.
        The contract includes a pay raise of 2.39 percent over a four year period.
        “It’s a good contract for the taxpayers, it’s a good contract for the workforce,” said City Administrator Mike Beazley. “We’re recognizing that it’s a seller’s market for labor. The workforce is in demand. And we’re working hard so we can stay competitive and recruit a quality workforce here.”
 
Police, fire
        Council also approved contracts with the Oregon Police Command Officers/Fraternal Order of Police, the Oregon Police Patrolmen’s Association, and Oregon Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 4093 with similar pay raises.
        The previous collective bargaining agreement between the city and full-time Firefighters Association Local 4093, the Police Command Officers/Fraternal Order of Police, and the Police Patrolmen’s Association had also expired on June 30, 2021.
        All of the contracts cover the period from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024.
        Council also approved an increase in compensation to full-time and part-time Professional, Supervisory and Technical (PST) employees. All pay ranges will be increased by 4 percent, and employees will receive pay retroactive to July 1, 2021, 2 ¾ percent effective July 2, 2022, and by 2 ¾ effective July 1, 2023.
       
Competitive
        “We’re finding, as are a number of communities, that people who sign up to take our tests is going down a little bit. We know we have lost people off of our lists who have chosen to go elsewhere or the private sector because we couldn’t be competitive,” said Beazley. “We think these agreements achieve that. We want to keep ourselves in a position where the only thing we like to avoid is turnover. It’s expensive to an organization – training, hiring, searching, interviewing, and background checks. We like to keep the people we hire and offer a competitive package. These agreements allow us to continue to do that.”
        Council also increased compensation to commissioners of the Oregon Civil Service Commission from $60 per meeting to $70 per meeting due to increased responsibilities.
 
Seaman
        Also at the meeting, council praised outgoing Councilman James Seaman, who lost in his re-election bid last month. Seaman has been a councilman since 1989.
        “Thank you for your service to our community,” said Council President Dennis Walendzak. “You’ve done a great job. It’s been an honor to serve with you.”
        Mayor Mike Seferian commended Seaman for his years of service.
         “Jim and I came in together in 1989. We even bumped heads a few times. I still have some scars from that. But it’s been fun,” said Seferian. “I enjoyed being around Jim, and each year, a little more.”
         “I’m not sure who the longest serving local public official is in Lucas County,” said Beazley, “but it might be Mr. Seaman. I don’t remember anybody who served more than Mr. Seaman. It’s been a pleasure working with you and I look forward to working with you one way or another in the community.”
        Walendzak added that Seaman served on the Oregon school board for four years, making it a total of 36 years he served the public.
       
Resolution
        Walendzak read a resolution that was passed by council in honor of Seaman:
        ”James S. Seaman has served as a member of council in Oregon for 32 years. He was first elected in November of 1989. Seaman served as council president from December of 1995 to November of 1997. He chaired city council’s finance committee during most of those years on council. He was a strategic figure in overseeing the city’s expenditures by making smart decisions on the use of taxpayer dollars as financial committee chairman, Councilman Seaman was also involved in decisions made by the administration regarding the generation of revenue and disbursement of funds for the City of Oregon. Councilman Seaman’s service to the residents of Oregon has been distinguished and greatly contributed to the community for the past 32 years. Members of council would like to extend their thanks and express their gratitude for Councilman Seaman’s commitment and dedication to the City of Oregon.”
        Council also gave Seaman a plaque in honor of his years of service.