City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.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:
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
The tentative agreements also contain key benefits to enhance employees’ work-life balance during the pandemic and beyond. Enhanced benefits include:
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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