The City of Long Beach has reached a tentative three-year labor agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The union now represents the Skilled and General Basic and Supervisor Units of the City employees who were previously represented by the Association of Long Beach Employees (ALBE). Details of this development can be found in the City of Long Beach Press Release.
The agreement focuses on a commitment to equity and fair wages drawn up to counter the increasing competitivity seen today's job market, ensuring an "equity adjustment" between 1% to a maximum of 20% for undervalued roles.
Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his appreciation to the IBEW leadership for their contribution in reaching this agreement. He believes that this strengthened labor agreement will further position the City of Long Beach as an attractive employer.
Apart from equity, supervisor benefits were also a central part of the negotiations with the Supervisor Unit. The agreement aimed to establish a reasonable supervisory differential between supervisors and their staff and to focus on improving employee relations, as well as recruitment and retention.
City Manager Tom Modica praised the process as equitable and reflective of the value of the employees within the Skilled and General Basic and Supervisor Units.
The specifics of the agreement includes a three-year contract that started last Sunday, October 1, general wage increases, one-time equity adjustments for supervisory roles, and skill pay updates. Other terms cover increases and modifications to special compensations like night shift differential pay, higher classification pay, standby pay, and boot allowance. The agreement also includes revisions to benefits such as bereavement and parental leave, an extended vacation accrual cap, sick leave, and funding for educational assistance.
City and IBEW representatives had three meetings leading up to an IBEW member vote held this year, May 23, which led to the tentative agreement. The Long Beach City Council will discuss and consider the agreement on October 10.
