Committee reviews collective bargaining changes for dispatchers, including overtime and education incentives

The committee reviewed an ordinance to adopt a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the City of Struthers and the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (OPBA) covering dispatchers, effective Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027.

Why it matters: The proposed agreement would align dispatcher holiday overtime pay with other city departments, add education-based incentives and formalize negotiated wages and language for a three-year term.

Key provisions discussed - Overtime parity: Staff said dispatchers previously received time-and-a-half for holiday overtime while other departments received double time; the CBA changes the dispatchers’ holiday overtime to match the rest of the city. - Education incentives: The agreement includes a monthly educational bonus for job-related degrees: $35 per month for an associate degree, $60 per month for a bachelor’s degree and $85 per month for a master’s degree, payable so long as the education is in a job-related field from an accredited institution. - Other pay and incentives: Committee discussion referenced a 5% pay increase consistent with other public safety raises previously agreed for police and fire; staff described additional modest bonuses for training and certifications.

Procedure and next steps - The ordinance adopting the CBA was presented and moved in committee; a second was recorded. The transcript records discussion of the agreement’s terms but does not document a recorded committee vote or formal adoption within this meeting. - Council members asked clarifying questions about whether educational bonuses are one-time payments or recurring; staff confirmed the listed bonuses are monthly payments for the duration that the qualification is held.

Ending Committee members discussed the package and moved it forward in committee; final adoption was not recorded in this meeting’s transcript.