Independence Township union employees get a two-percecnt raise after all.
Independence Township Board denied the raise two months ago for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees employees. Renegotiation brought a compromise ? two-percent raise for one year instead of three.
The board voted 5-2 in favor of the revised contract.
‘We rejected it last time because we felt, with the current economic climate, we really couldn’t see three years out. We understand that the old board had budgeted this potential increase for 2009,? said Trustee Neil Wallace. ‘Because it was budgeted and because we got it down to the one year, I’m in favor of it.?
Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen disagreed.
‘I’ve already spoken when I took my salary freeze, and I think it’s a message important to the community,? she said. ‘I think we need to take a salary freeze across the board.?
Trustee Larry Rosso said he didn’t want township employees to lose their home, which is why he supported the contract.
‘I want to make sure they have a year of financial security in light of the economic circumstances,? said Rosso. ‘I think it’s pretty comparable to other public employee contracts of the schools and other townships.?
Trustee Mark Petterson agreed with Rosso.
‘It’s important these employees get their raise,? he said. ‘They really dedicate their lives to this township and I’m really proud of the employees here.?
Trustee David Lohmeier said the township’s budget is not going to change over the next year, especially since the board budgeted the two-percent increase.
‘We can react next year if catastrophe strikes, but I think that we made an honest proposal and the union came back and accepted it,? he said. ‘We should go ahead and honor it.?
Along with VanderVeen, Treasurer Curt Carson said he could not vote in favor of the contract because the township doesn’t know where exactly they are financially.
‘I would love to say ‘hey, let’s give them two percent, three percent, 10 percent.? But today, right now, I don’t feel like I can make any decision on this because we don’t know where we are,? he said. ‘We need to know before we make a decision on anybody’s salary or any major program where we stand today and how it’s going to affect us tomorrow.?
Supervisor Dave Wagner said he was ‘pleased? to work with union and non-union employees over the past four years, and the township has been able to accomplish what it has because of them.
‘You all have worked very hard and we don’t know what the future is. I do personally appreciate the one-year contract,? said Wagner, addressing a crowd of AFSCME workers. ‘I think it’s very reasonable.?
When it came time to discuss Non-AFSCME employees, attorney Craig Lang, who was stepping in for labor attorney Greg Shultz, said the issue had ‘some significant matters of legal importance? and recommended the board table the discussion until they can meet in closed session. The board voted unanimously to table.