Avon Lake Council Approves Union Contracts

After brief discussion, approved four collective bargaining unit contracts June 20 that held the city's and unions to 0 percent increases for the next three years. Council also approved two contracts for service workers that approved an increase in pay, but a decrease in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) pickup, which essentially results in a 0 percent net increase.  

“This is a good agreement,” Avon Lake Mayor K.C. Zuber, who was instrumental in the negotiations, said. “It takes us out of complications down the road.”

Zuber was referring to SB 5, and a possible referendum. Regardless of whether the bill goes to a vote, the contracts approved June 20 will remain in effect until after they expire.

The 3-year contracts will go into effect July 1.

Councilman David Kos thanked the mayors and union heads for putting the contracts together saying fire lieutenant John Reitz “said it best when he said it showed they were part of the team.”

City council and the Avon Lake teacher's union have also declined raises.

“All bodies here are noticing the economic times and by having a pay freeze, we’re being responsible,” Kos said.

Kos, the Ward 4 councilman, said feedback from his ward was 10-1 in favor of the agreements. He also said he would have liked it if council were more involved in the negotiations but understood by law they were not required to be.

Council president Greg Zilka said he supported the contracts.

“Both sides benefitted from the agreement,” he said. “This is indeed a way for both sides to get something out of it.”

All six collective bargaining agreements were approved unanimously.