Fairlawn employees receive pay increase

Fairlawn Mayor William Roth. Roth says the city and union representatives will have many items to discuss next year. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal file photo)

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FAIRLAWN: The city has finalized its negotiations with the various full-time workers unions. Law Director Ed Riegler said the negotiations went well, but said this was only due to the fact that the only changes made were workers’ pay.

“All the bargaining units were very agreeable,” said Riegler. “They were all tuned in to the economic conditions and were aware of the condition of the city.”

The full-time employees will receive a 2.25 percent pay increase with the passing of the ordinance, effective Jan. 1.  Although negotiations went smoothly, Riegler said next year is going to be another challenge.

“[Union workers] contracts expire totally at the end of 2013,” Riegler said. “So we’ll be negotiating in the fall for a new three-year agreement.”

Mayor William Roth agrees with Riegler, saying that next year the city and union representatives will have many items to discuss.

“Next year everything’s on the table and both sides know that,” Roth said. “Part of it is the Affordable Health Care Act, but we all realize it’s going to be a tough road ahead of us.”