The North Royalton City Council unanimously adopted legislation that authorized Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz to enter into a two-year contract with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Ohio Council 8, Local 3410 (AFSCME) as the bargaining representative for certain members of the Wastewater and Service and Building Departments. This is the second, of the City’s union contracts this year to be approved. Last June, the City entered into a contract with the Firefighter’s Union, the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO Local 2156.
In addition to these two unions, the following are the remaining unions that are represented in North Royalton: Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #15 (Patrol, Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #15 (Sergeants), Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #15 (Corrections), Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #15 (Clerical/Animal Control), and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Ohio Council 8, Local 3410 (AFSME). All of the city’s union contracts expired on December 31, 2020. In addition, they also approved ordinances following suit, for the following: Police and Fire Chiefs, Police Captain, Assistant Fire Chief, Police Lieutenant and any non-union full time city employee.
Last February, the City Council approved most of the City’s union contracts for 2021. Those agreements extended the then-current contract with the unions for one year, rather than a three-year contract that has been typically negotiated. The last contract agreement, which went into effect for 2018, included a wage increases of 2.5 percent in 2018 and 2 percent in both 2019 and 2020. The 2021 agreement was effective with the first full pay period in July 2021, with employees receiving a salary increase of 1.25%. In addition, “a lump sum amount of $1,000 as a bonus which shall not be computed in any overtime compensation calculation. The lump sum bonus was paid in February, 2021 to all eligible employees. All active part-time non-union employees who worked 24 or more hours per week in 2020 shall receive a $500 lump sum bonus. Active part-time non-union employees who worked between 15-23 hours per week in 2020 shall receive a $250 lump sum bonus. Active part-time, non-union employees who worked less than 15 hours per week in 2020 shall receive a $100 lump sum bonus.” North Royalton Finance Director Eric Dean estimated the total of the bonus and raise equated to an average of a 2% raise for 2021.
The recently adopted contract will be effective January 1, 2022 and expire on December 31, 2023. As with the Firefighters contract, this contract states that on January 1, 2022 all base wage rates shall increase 2.75%; Effective January 1, 2023 all base wage rates shall increase 3.0%.
The employees’ monthly contribution for family or individual coverage for 2022 will be Family: $230, Individual: $88. The rates for 2023 will be Family: $240, Individual: $93. The Employer’s medical exposure for 2022, Family Plan: $1,300, Individual Plan: $800. For 2023, Family Plan: $1,400, Individual Plan: $850.
For School Cost Reimbursement, the following licenses shall receive the corresponding license incentive added to their base wage, upon receipt and approval by their Department head of the license issued by the state: Class I Waste Water Collection License, $0.25; Class II Waste Water Collection License, $0.50; Class I Waste Water Treatment License, $0.25; Class II Waste Water Treatment License, $0.50; Class III Waste Water Treatment License, $1.00; Class I Laboratory Technician License, $0.25; Class II Laboratory Technician License, $0.50; Class III Laboratory Technician License, $1.00.
In addition, Building Inspectors who obtain and maintain two of the three OBBC Certifications, such as Commercial Building Official, Commercial Electrical Safety Inspector and Commercial Plumbing Inspector, shall be paid an added $1.00 to their base wage. Mayor Antoskiewicz stated that this would encourage employees to get/continue education, which would benefit the city operations.
Holidays, Vacation and Longevity Pay remains the same. All full-time employees shall receive seven paid holidays, plus eight personal days. After one year of service, full-time employees receive two weeks of vacation; three weeks after five years; four weeks after ten years; five weeks after fifteen years and six weeks after twenty years. All employees receive longevity payments at rate of $100 for each year of full-time service, starting on the employees fifth anniversary. At that time, they will receive the pay yearly, starting with $500. With each year served after that, $100 is added, so if an employee has worked ten years, they will receive and annual payment of $1,000 and so on. A uniform allowance was increased from $600 to $800.
Antoskiewicz said that he would like to wrap up the remaining union contracts by the end of the month. “That fits in nicely with getting it in to the budget,” which is currently being discussed for 2022.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer