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Council raises pay for teamsters, approves funds for anti-meth van
by Jason Dietrich
The city's painters, handymen, and mechanics will be getting a 2.5 percent raise this year and a 3 percent raise next year, along with several other bonuses and allowances.
At their meeting Tuesday, the council approved a memorandum of understanding between the city and Local 911, the branch of the teamster's union that represents 66 city employees. The cost of the raise over the next year is estimated to be $120,500.
The raise for the city's teamsters goes into effect retroactively July 1, 2000. The increase was negotiated over several months and covers costs of living increases, said Director of Human Resources Karyn Ezell.
The city also set up a program to meet out performance-based bonuses to the teamsters. The program will hopefully be in place by December 1, 2000. A committee of city and union representatives will be formed to work out the framework of the bonus program, including the size and frequency of awards. The city has agreed to fund the project, up to $26,000, but expects that future funding to come from cost savings due to greater efficiency.
"The bonuses will reward greater leadership on the part of our employees. So if that results in fewer trips to the yard on the part of our maintenance employees, or fewer lost tools, we're saving money," Ezell said.
The council also approved a 2.5 raise for another 16 city employees, mainly department heads and high-level staff.
Council approved the acceptance of $51,272 in state grant funds towards the purchase of an undercover surveillance van. The total cost of the equipment and the truck is expected to come to $61,000, the balance of which will come from funds seized from criminals. The van would primarily be used to keep tabs on suspected methamphetamine producers and provide videotape and photographic evidence to prosecute meth cooks. Four labs have been discovered so far this year by Redondo Beach Police.ER