Vote set on first PB police officers union contract, no raise included

The first contract for a Poplar Bluff police officers union may be approved March 16 by city council members.

The contract was set for a vote in February, but was delayed because of changes in city policy regarding benefits for employees hired after Aug. 31, 2019.

The city and union officials have agreed the contract will match the changes made to employee benefits regarding health insurance premiums, according to city manager Mark Massingham.

The new version will be brought forward as a voting item at the next council meeting.

The contract does not include a raise and would be good through the end of 2020, Massingham said.

It does state if the city approves a raise for other non-union employees, it would be extended to the police officers union, he explained.

The officers are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 702. IBEW also represents Municipal Utilities workers and a union which represents police department dispatchers.

City officials voted in the fall of 2019 to change health insurance contributions for future employees, a change that was not reflected in the previous contract negotiations for this union group.

The city pays 100% of health insurance premiums for all current and future employees.

Anyone hired after Aug. 31, 2019, does not receive employer contributions toward spouse, child or family insurance. The city also dropped contributions to retiree health insurance, for those hired after that date.

Union officials had argued at the time of the change against the new policy.

The city pays 2/3 of the cost for spouse, child or family insurance, for those hired before the change. It also contributes to health insurance for retirees who were hired before the change.

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This article has been corrected to remove street department workers from a list of city workers served by IBEW.