Union workers thank Vallejo council for ‘working out a fair deal’ in new contract

VALLEJO – The Vallejo City Council approved a three-year contract with the city’s largest union that includes an immediate 8% raise for a broad range of city workers at a meeting on Tuesday.

The city’s prior contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245 ended on June 30. Days before that, union workers filled the city council chambers to urge the city to move forward in negotiations, which they said were at a standstill.

That night workers and union negotiators passionately addressed the council arguing that a pay increase was long overdue and that a better wages would ameliorate the high turnover rates in many departments. 

The workers’ remarks were not wasted on council members. Days later, negotiators reached a tentative contract agreement that union members overwhelmingly approved with 88% of the membership vote.

“Some people were moved to tears, because this is one of the best contracts that IBEW has seen in decades,” said Kim Camatti, co-chair of the IBEW Local 1245 negotiating committee. 

“It's a huge victory that belongs to the hard working men and women of Vallejo and everyone who supported them.” 

The new agreement provides an 8% wage increase for all city workers in the IBEW 1245 bargaining unit. Three percent of that total increase is an equity adjustment intended to bring the wages closer to levels offered by cities in the surrounding areas. 

The remaining 5% increase is a cost of living adjustment that allows wages to keep pace with current levels of inflation. The contract includes subsequent 5% increases for the following two years of the three-year contract.

The city also agreed to pay a larger portion of workers’ health plans by increasing the employer contribution from 75% to 80%.

“The average contribution that employers pay is about 91%,” Camatti said. “So the fact that they're trying to make that right was a huge step for Vallejo. We're very appreciative of that.”

The contract increased allowances to compensate workers for purchasing boots each year from $200 to $300 and it will provide code enforcement workers with bullet proof vests. Camatti said that this is an important benefit because code enforcement officers can find themselves in dangerous confrontations when documenting or noticing code violations on private property.

Workers also will receive higher pay ranging from a 5-7% increase for swing shifts and 7-10% increase for night shifts. “This makes a big difference for 911 dispatchers and workers in the water department who work late nights and odd hours to keep the city running safely,” said Camatti.

IBEW workers will also receive 3% more when they are asked to clean up homeless encampments. “Our building and maintenance workers have to do that cleaning weekly,” Carnatti siad. “They have to clean up syringes, they have to clean up human waste, it's just something that was needed.”

At Tuesday’s meeting Utility Supervisor Josh Davidson thanked City Council members for approving the agreement. “On behalf of my IBEW 1245 brothers and sisters that work here, I thank you for coming to the table and bargaining with us,” Davidson said. “I thank you for working out a fair deal, and I thank you in advance for signing this contract.” 

Councilmember Mina Loera-Diaz said that she is pleased with the result of the negotiations. “I feel that this is a fair contract and this is something that has been a long time coming. We know how hard you work and we know that you are out there during all kinds of weather. You truly are appreciated,” Loera-Diaz said, addressing her statement to all IBEW 1245 members.

Councilmember Peter Bregenzer said that he also appreciates the hard work of IBEW members but added, “I do have major concerns about the longevity of this contract and the affordability of it by the city.”

Bregenzer entered the only “no” vote when the city council approved the contract.

The recently approved city budget allowed for a 3.5% cost of living adjustment for IBEW city workers. The benefits that negotiators agreed to exceeding that 3.5% will require $1.04 million in additional spending from the general fund and $1.3 million from other city funds such as the enterprise fund for the water department.

The IBEW 1245 represents 293 funded positions with members in most city departments, however, only 203 of those positions are filled.

Cammatti said that the negotiating committe’s biggest success was conveying to city negotiators that employees want to stay in Vallejo but when nearby cities are offering $10 more per hour many can’t afford not to leave.

“I'm very grateful that the council members did recognize that. And that they realize they have to  make some changes in order to be able to turn the city around so we can stop the bleeding and begin to improve retention rates.” Camatti said.