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Elyria committee ratifies three‑year dispatchers contract with 5/4/3% raises
Summary
Finance Committee approved a ratified three‑year collective bargaining agreement with the OPBA dispatch unit covering 12 employees, with wage increases of 5% (2026), 4% (2027), and 3% (2028); estimated three‑year cost roughly $150,000 to be paid from the General Fund.
The Finance Committee approved a ratified three‑year collective bargaining agreement with the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (OPBA) dispatch unit on Dec. 8. The contract covers 12 dispatch employees and includes wage increases of 5% in 2026, 4% in 2027 and 3% in 2028, along with housekeeping changes such as bilingual pay and a sick‑leave cash‑out provision.
Safety Service staff presented the final and red‑lined contract documents and said most changes were administrative. Committee members asked about the cost and funding. A committee member summarized an estimated three‑year cost at roughly $150,000 and confirmed the increases are paid from the General Fund. The law director recommended an emergency clause because the contract's effective date is Jan. 1, 2026; the committee approved the ordinance as an emergency measure by voice vote.
Committee discussion raised a staffing‑hours question: the contract text references an eight‑hour shift, but members noted dispatch had moved to 12‑hour shifts in practice; staff said the contract uses eight‑hour language and will be reconciled with the union before the final council vote. Staff also said outstanding pension/buyback language was being resolved with the union representative and anticipated to be fixed before full council consideration.
Next steps: council will consider the ratified agreement on the full council calendar; staff expects outstanding language issues to be resolved before final council action.
