Santa Rosa's largest employee union agrees to $1.2 million in concessions

The Santa Rosa City Council accepted concessions from its largest public employee union Tuesday that saves the city $1.2 million this year.

The deal with the 440-member Santa Rosa Employees Association brings to $3.3 million the total the city will save through employee concessions this year, which began July 1.

The agreement calls for employees to take 68.5 hours of unpaid furlough days this year, less than last year's 96 hours. That equates to 3.3 percent of salary versus last year's 4.6 percent reduction.

A portion of the furlough is tied to the city's plans to shut down City Hall for the week after Christmas to save money, said Human Resources Director Fran Elm.

The city has made it clear that it is looking for more permanent savings than one-time savings of furloughs, said union president Tony Alvernaz.

"If the economy doesn't pick up, furloughs might not be an option next year," he said.

The city also sought and received changes to employee health care plans that will increase members' premiums as well as out-of-pocket expenses like co-pays.

Under the deal, the most generous plan — and most expensive for the city — will be eliminated. In addition, over two years, employees' health coverage costs will go up from 12.5 percent of total premium costs to 14.5 percent, Alvernaz said.

"We understand what most people pay for health care, and I've told the members we've got a good deal, so paying a little more for health care isn't going to hurt us," he said.

Voting on the contract wrapped up Monday at 5 p.m., with employees approving the deal by a wide margin, Alvernaz said. Of the 213 employees who voted, 83 percent, or 182, voted in favor of the deal, while 31 voted no.

The $1.2 million in savings is equivalent to $2,727 per employee.