Huron signs contracts with all 3 unions

HURON — Huron officials stayed busy, and kept productive, at the bargaining table. During a recent public meeting, city council members ratified a trio of three-year-long contracts with Huron's unions: fire, police and non-safety services. With details provided by Cory Swaisgood, the city's finance director, here are the most important details when looking at them collectively: Contracts' length: The three-year deals all began on Jan. 1 and run through Dec. 31, 2024. Contracts' raises: All employees stand to receive a: • 2% raise in 2022 • 2.25% raise in 2023 • 2.5% raise in 2024 Contracts' payouts: Just factoring in the raises, local taxpayers can expect to spend about an extra $500,000 during the contracts' life. "These costs are supported through various revenue sources, including the water utility, income tax, fire levy, Huron Township fire contract — 50% of total fire budget — and permissive and gas tax." Contracts' additions: Among the more notable clauses for all unions • Health care benefits were slightly modified to adjust for rising medical costs. But all union and non-bargaining employees will be offered the same health care plans from 2022 to 2024. The employee share of health insurance premiums will increase to 5% over the three-year term of the agreement with no increase in 2022 and a contribution equaling 4% of total premiums in 2023 and a contribution equaling 5% of total premiums in 2024. • Juneteenth: Each union received Juneteenth, June 19, as an additional paid holiday over the term of the contract For the fire union: • The city agreed to re-establish an education pay provision, which provides for a salary increase of up to 3% for successful completion of so many credit hours toward a degree in fire science, EMS or in related field. For the police union in relation to patrol officers and sergeants: • The city agreed to increase the amount of sick hours members can cash out on an annual basis and agreed to a $1 per hour equity adjustment for patrollers in 2022 in addition to the 2% increase. For the non-safety service union: • The city agreed to an additional personal day and offered shift differential pay at 64 cents per hour for water plant employees working nights and weekends. • All non-bargaining employees are also receiving a 2% salary increase beginning Jan. 1. Those representing the unions, including fire, spoke positively about these deals. "The relationship between the union and the city continues to remain strong, and negotiations were positive all the way through," said Jerod Smith, a city firefighter who also serves as the department's union president.