Elkhart approves AFSCME contract with no wage increases, adds paid breaks for field crews
Summary
The Board of Works approved a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 1484 that includes no wage or salary increases this year, adds a one-day bereavement leave expansion and adds paid 15-minute breaks for certain field workers instead of a paid lunch.
The Elkhart City Board of Works on Tuesday approved the collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 1484.
City staff told the board there are no wage or salary increases in the agreement because of current budget constraints. The agreement includes housekeeping changes, an additional one-day bereavement leave for more family relationships (aunt, uncle, niece, nephew), and an operations provision that formalizes two paid 15-minute breaks for field workers who formerly combined breaks around a paid lunch. Staff said the paid-break approach preserves operational continuity and yields cost savings compared with other approaches considered during negotiations.
Maggie and staff noted this contract mirrors an MOU the board previously signed that changed some crews to 12-hour shifts; Teamsters negotiations are ongoing and will be brought to the board separately.
