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North Canton approves three-year contract with Utility Workers Local 605, adds certification and longevity provisions
Summary
Council approved a collective bargaining agreement with Utility Workers Union of America Local 605 that raises wages and adds certification requirements for new hires, restores longevity pay, and allows prior-service credit for recruiting.
North Canton City Council approved a resolution adopting a three-year collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Utility Workers Union of America, Local 605, and declared the resolution an emergency so the contract could take effect immediately.
City staff said the agreement sets a 3% wage increase in the first year and 3.5% increases in years two and three. The contract requires new hires to obtain required operator certification within two years; staff said that requirement reflects the need for certified operators to manage water testing and treatment functions.
Council and staff described other provisions intended to improve recruitment and retention: restoration of longevity pay for eligible employees, and prior-service credit that can transfer eligible time worked for vacation accrual purposes from another employer. Staff said the unit is small, with six employees who operate the water treatment plant 24/7.
Council suspended the usual notice rules and adopted the resolution under emergency to put the contract into effect without delay. The vote took place after staff walked council through the substantive contract provisions; no roll-call tally was recorded in the public transcript excerpt.
