Plum officials ink a new 4-year deal with public works union employees
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A new four-year deal for Plum public works employees comes with raises and a borough contribution to a new supplemental pension fund.
Council unanimously approved the contract Monday, effective through 2023.
Borough Manager Michael Thomas said it affects about 24 employees and Plum plans to hire more next year.
The deal comes with 2% raises each year and a 2% defined contribution supplemental pension benefit.
“Their defined benefit pension plan is failing miserably,” Thomas said. “It’s a Teamsters multi-employer plan. The borough’s trying to help them out with a supplemental pension benefit to offset some of the loses in their defined benefit plan. It won’t offset the losses. It will just offset some of the losses.”
The deal maintains current health care contributions, and guarantees more worker availability during the winter months.
“Winter months we go to 24-hour coverage for snow call outs,” Thomas said. “They agreed to restrictions on the use of paid leave during that period. It helps us make sure that we keep higher numbers of people on staff and, during any given time, helps us respond better to snow emergencies when they occur.”
Thomas said the borough usually has 12 public works employees, including a mechanic, available per shift.
Council Vice President Dave Seitz said the contract is a great deal for both sides.
“It certainly holds the line on the borough’s costs, but it also offers some additional benefits and incentives to the public works department that they didn’t have before,” Seitz said. “I think it’s a win-win.”
The last public works contract also was a four-year deal. People interested in becoming a public works employee can contact the borough office at 412-795-6800.