They had rejected deals before, saying merit raise reductions were too great.
By Times Staff Writer
Published November 11, 2005
TAMPA - Third time was a charm for Tampa city employees' contracts.
Union employees on Thursday approved a contract package reducing their merit raises from 2, 4 or 6 percent to 2, 2.5 or 3 percent, depending on their performance evaluations.
It was the third time in recent months the union voted on a negotiated contract package. The first two times, employees rejected bargained salary packages on the grounds the merit raise reductions were too great.
"They still hated the merit increase, but they just want their money," said Mary Neuemier, executive board member for the union.
The Amalgamated Transit Union represents about 2,250 garbage collectors, emergency dispatchers, sewer line repair workers, secretaries and other nonprofessional employees who earn from $9 to $25 an hour. It does not include police and fire rescue workers.
Of 1,120 ballots cast Thursday, 668 voted in favor of the newly renegotiated contracts. During the prior vote on Sept. 28, employees rejected a plan to reduce their merit raises to as low as 1, 2 or 3 percent.
More than 800 people participated in that vote, with about 500 casting ballots against it. Typically, about 200 people participate in contract votes, the president of the union said.
