PRESS RELEASE

City of Long Beach 
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd, 
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov

9/11/2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # 091120-2
Subject:
City of Long Beach Reaches Tentative Labor Agreement With Two More Employee Bargaining Units
Additional Furloughs Secured While Reaching Long-term Competitive Contracts
Contact:
Alex Basquez
Director of Human Resources
562.570.6140
Alex.Basquez@longbeach.gov




Today, the City of Long Beach announced tentative labor agreements with the Long Beach Supervisor Employees Association (LBSEA) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). 

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents approximately 3,000 employees and the Long Beach Supervisor Employees Association represents approximately 100 employees.

“I want to thank the hardworking men and women of the IAM and LBSEA for all they are doing to support the city and our community during this time,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “These bargaining agreements provide quality of life improvements for our employees and put the city on a much more stable path towards recovery in the future.”

In recognition of the emerging financial conditions and uncertain times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the associations have agreed to include the same labor cost-savings measures as recently approved miscellaneous employee agreements, as follows:

  • Employees will be furloughed for 26 days during FY 21 with an alternative option for critical positions on an exception basis. The furloughs represent a one-time equivalent in 10% of pay.
  • Both agreements have a labor costing savings reopener clause in the event that the Mayor and City Council declare an economic emergency. This allows the City to re-open the MOU if the City faces further fiscal hardship. 

The tentative agreements include a phased-in approach for structural wage increases, tailored to each bargaining unit, which helps the City remain competitive with other public sector agencies. Each agreement also contains additional skill pay, non-pension-based compensation or equity salary adjustments.

“I am so proud of both our City team and the associations for working so diligently at the negotiating table to get to an agreement that was supported by the employees,” said City Manager Tom Modica. “With this agreement, we now have ratified agreements with the vast majority of associations who represent General Fund operations, and we have essentially reached our $11 million savings goal.” 

Tentative Agreement Terms

  • Four-year contract term from October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2023.
  • General wage increases: up to 8% over four years.

The tentative agreements also contain key benefits to enhance employees’ work-life balance during the pandemic and beyond. Enhanced benefits include:

  • New paid parental leave. 
  • An additional City holiday.
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
  • Vacation, holiday in-lieu and personal holiday accrual maximums adjusted to accommodate the City’s LB Coast HR system requirements.
  • And other benefit adjustments.

Long Beach City Council approved a similar labor agreement with the Association of Engineering Employees on Sept. 8 and labor agreements with several other associations on Aug. 25. To date, the City has reached agreement with 11 of the 12 employee groups, with only one group in ongoing negotiations for a successor MOU. In addition, the Council will consider a resolution applying the same proposed salary and benefit terms including the cost-savings measure to the unrepresented non-management employees. The unrepresented non-management employees account for approximately 100 employees. 

The agreements will go before the City Council for consideration and public discussion on September 15, 2020.

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