The City of Sparks, Nevada, enters into labor agreements with its various bargaining units. The City of Sparks (City) and Sparks Fire Chief Officers Unit (Unit) entered into a multi-year agreement (amended) through June 30, 2015. The parties began meeting early 2015, and continued to meet to discuss the terms and conditions of the agreement. The bargaining agreement proposed today is the result of those meetings, and will cover the period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. The City and the Unit believe the attached agreement fairly represents a good faith effort to reach agreement on labor issues related to this multi-year agreement involving wage rates and benefits. Both negotiating teams are positively recommending ratification/approval of the proposed agreement by their respective authorizing bodies.

Following are the substantive changes negotiated.  Also attached are the strike out and final bargaining agreement documents.

SECTION 1 – ADMINISTRATION

Article B. ADOPTION OF AGREEMENT

The Sparks Fire Department Rules and Regulations are removed as a formal part of the bargaining agreement.

Article D. DURATION OF AGREEMENT

This Agreement shall take effect July 1, 2015, and shall continue in force until June 30, 2017, except as otherwise provided herein, or until a successor agreement has been ratified by both parties.

Section 2 – PAY

Article A. PAY RATES

For the 2015/2016 Contract Period, effective the first full pay period following January 1, 2016, pay rates and pay scales will be increased 1.5% above the pay rates and scales in effect on December 31, 2015.

For 2016/2017 Contract Period, effective for the first full pay period following July 1, 2016, pay rates and pay scales will be increased by 1.5% above the pay rates and pay scales in effect on June 30, 2016.

For 2016/2017 Contract Period, effective for the first full pay period following January 1, 2017, pay rates and pay scales will be increased by 1.5% above the pay rates and pay scales in effect on December 30, 2016.

3.         Promotions

Specifies the salary upon promotion as 5% below the pay scale maximum, or at maximum, depending on the number of hours spent in an Acting Batalliion Chief status.

Article G. EMPLOYEE LONGEVITY

Increases maximum Longevity for employees of this agreement to $5,000 gross, per year (previously grandfathered rate).

Article H. CLOTHING ALLOWANCE AND PERSONAL ITEM REPLACEMENT

Uniform Allowance:  All uniform allowance shall be payable with the employee's regular pay each pay period.

Section 3 – BENEFITS

Article A. GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE

Changes eligibility for benefits to the first of the month following hire.

Revises language on Group Health Insurance Committee, providing for representation (non-voting) of unrepresented groups.

Article D. TUITION REIMBURSEMENT

Increases Tuition Reimbursement to $1,500 per year (from $1,000).

Section 4 – LEAVE BENEFITS

Article A. HOLIDAYS AND HOLIDAY PAY

Payment for unused or banked hours may be made upon the written request of the employee to the payroll division.

Article B. ANNUAL

Annual Conversion: Once per fiscal year, an employee may elect to cash out annual leave in the amount of eighty (80) hours, in forty hour increments.  The employee must have a minimum of one hundred sixty (160) hours to utilize this benefit.  This request must be emailed to the Payroll Division.

1. The Council may choose to approve the proposed bargaining agreement as outlined by staff. 2. The Council may choose not to approve the proposed bargaining agreement as outlined by staff. 3. The Council may choose not to approve the proposed bargaining agreement as outlined by staff and direct staff toward another alternative.

I move to approve the bargaining agreement between the City of Sparks and the Sparks Fire Chief Officers unit for the contract period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017.