Employees at Metroparks Toledo will be seeing increases in their salaries.
At the June 22 meeting, the park commissioners authorized increases for the 82 full-time and 12 part-time hourly employees.
Key provisions of the new contract are:
•$15 per hour minimum pay rate;
•$500 lump sum payment representing 2021, when there was no contract
•2022 pay rate retroactive to March.
Full-time employees will be on a seven-year step program, based on when an employee started their current position, and the position’s pay grade.
Part-time staff will receive a $2.50 per hour increase for employment grades of 14 and under.
In 2023, full-time staff will receive an average increase of 5 percent, and part time, 3 percent.
The contract, approved by the bargaining unit, also includes changes to several positions moved to a higher pay grade. Rangers moved up one pay grade; natural resources positions were updated with increases in pay grades, and increases were approved for horticultural staff to align with internal equity.
The contract adds new benefits and provisions. They are:
•Commercial Driver’s License–Metroparks will now pay for approved staff to obtain a CDL-A license, which costs approximately $6,000. Staff will have 12 months to get a license, increased from six months.
•Compensatory Time– holiday worked pay is now eligible for comp time for both part- and full-time staff. •Horticultural Technician
•Horticultural Technician Progression Plan–a new program, similar to that offered for park technicians, outlines the training and qualifications for technicians to be promoted to the next level.
•Snow and Other Emergencies–the new agreement allows more flexibility in voluntarily working during a Level 3 emergency. Union representatives may consult with the executive director in the case of any future weather or other emergency such as a pandemic.
Scott Savage, park board president, noted talks have been ongoing for about one year. “Both sides wanted appropriate and fair compensation,” he said, adding they believed it was important to establish equitable pay rates for different categories of labor.
Park commissioner Molly Luetke was pleased with how smoothly negotiations went. “It’s important that everyone in our organization feel valued and appreciated for their hard work.”
Fellow commissioner Fritz Byers agreed, “The values we espouse to the community we are committed to bringing to our staff.”
He added, “The speed in which we reached the agreement says a lot. There was a distinct process of openness. This will allow us to continue moving forward.”
Other Business
In other business, the park board:
•Approved a resolution of necessity, the first step in placement of a levy on the ballot. The park board is seeking renewal of a 10- year, 0.9-mill levy for the November 8 ballot.
The current levy expires in 2022 with final distribution in 2023.
•Contracted with Game-Time Inc. for replacement of poured-in-place rubber surfacing at Pearson park’s playground at a cost not to exceed $83,672.
•Amended the 2022 certificate of revenues to address updates for grant programs. The increases are $43,640 for operation of summer programs; $7.2 million for payment of principal and interest due on outstanding bonds, and $12 million to support Glass City River Walk construction.
•Transferred $16.6 million from the general fund to the capital construction, treehouse maintenance, River Walk and education funds. The bulk of the transfer, $14.38 million is for the River Walk.
•Amended a 2018 resolution to reflect that the park district bargaining units are represented by the Metroparks Toledo Employee Association and are no longer represented by AFSCME Local 706.
•Approved payables for May totaling $2.66 million.
The next park board meeting will be at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 27, and is open to the public. The location has yet to be decided.
~Jane Maiolo
