ASHLAND — City of Ashland union members not within police and fire departments will receive wage hikes this year through 2027 and experience stipends, according to a contract inked with city officials.
Council unanimously voted to adopt the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union contract during its May 20 meeting. It takes effect June 1.
The agreement, which expires again on May 31, 2028, also includes an entirely new section on working conditions for transit employees.
There are 86 city employees that are currently represented by the AFSCME union.
Wage hikes and experience stipends
Each employee will receive a $1 per hour increase if they were hired before June 1. After that, and through June 2027 employees will get an annual 4-percent wage hike.
The agreement includes experience stipends, which are defined by years of service. Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said the union negotiators initially asked for longevity pay.
“We were not in favor of that,” Miller said.
Instead, negotiators landed on experience stipends, which appear to be annual bonuses paid out on the first full pay period of November each year based on years of experience according to the following schedule:
- 5-9 years = $250
- 10-14 years = $500
- 15-19 years = $600
- 20-24 years = $700
- 25+ years = $800
Transit working conditions
This year’s agreement includes a new section dedicated to transit working conditions. The section puts into words what has been practice for years, Miller said.
It defines the department’s protocols surrounding sign-ups “runs,” which are essentially a driver’s daily work schedule and an outline for routes they are responsible for.
The section also states that “call-in pay” will equate to the employee’s rate for three hours of work.
It also outlines a 15-minute preparation time for drivers. It will be paid before all regular runs and includes reporting to the dispatcher, cleaning the bus, checking the bulletin board and checking the bus.
Transit drivers are also expected to return the vehicles with “no less than three-fourths of a full tank. Fueling can be done throughout a driver’s shift, the agreement states.
Smooth negotiation
Shawn Daum, the union representative, was not immediately available for comment.
Miller said the overall negotiation went “extremely smoothly,” adding the contract was updated and negotiated before the current agreement expires.