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Hillsborough And Tampa Consider Salary Freezes

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 18, 2008

Updated: 02/18/2008 12:13 am

TAMPA - Some city and county officials want to look at freezing wages for some or all of their employees as a way to help balance budgets.

The specifics vary, but the rationale is if many employees make a small sacrifice by forgoing a raise or even taking a salary cut, jobs could be saved during tough budget times.

Mayor Pam Iorio expects to lay off at least 100 employees this year, mostly security and janitorial workers. The county also is considering layoffs.

"I'd rather give back a little bit than see people lose their jobs," Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair said.

But adjusting salaries and raises isn't an easy process. Thousands of city and county workers are protected by union contracts that would need to be reopened to adjust salaries.

"I know it sounds simple to just say no pay increase," Iorio said. "It isn't."

Blair said he wants fellow commissioners to consider a one-year salary freeze for employees who make more than $75,000. Any salary freeze should apply to county commissioners as well, he said, but he didn't know if it would be feasible to have a freeze apply to employees working under union contracts. Commissioners are paid about $92,000 a year.

He wants the county's legal staff to review the issue. Deputy County Administrator Wally Hill said the contracts would need to be reopened. That can be a difficult process because unions first have to agree to reopen talks, and then contracts would need to be reratified.

Regardless, a salary freeze for even some employees would help, Blair said.

"We need to find a way to preserve the jobs of those working now," Blair said. "People have to realize there are going to be sacrifices."

Commission chairman Ken Hagan said halting raises on workers making more than $75,000 is arbitrary at best but agreed with Blair's general idea that temporarily eliminating raises is one possible solution to the county's budget crisis.

County workers got a 3.5 percent raise last year and are expected to receive the same raise this year. Merit raises were eliminated last year.

"We have to consider something less," Hagan said. "By freezing or minimizing salary increases we run the risk of losing some of our best employees and not being able to attract the best employees in the future, but unfortunately that's the cards we've been dealt, and everything is on the table. We're forced to look at it."

The county is projecting a $70 million hit in light of Amendment 1's passage. Layoffs are likely.

County Administrator Pat Bean said asking employees to give up their raises would hurt morale, especially at a time people are worried about their jobs.

"Everyone who is going to be remaining is going to be asked to do more," Bean said.

And if the county freezes salaries, Bean said, employees might quit and go to work for the city.

Tampa: Reduce Pay Increases

Some Tampa City Council members say the city should look at freezing salaries as well.

Councilwoman Mary Mulhern wants to consider holding back merit raises, or even asking nonunion employees to take a small salary cut. Doing so would send a message to the unions that they should "take a hit as well," she said.

She said she, too, would be willing to take a salary cut. Council members make slightly more than $40,000 a year for the part-time position.

Tampa police union President Greg Stout said he understands times are tough, but, "We have a contract that's been agreed upon by all parties, ratified by members and approved by the city council. Realistically, we'll certainly talk to the city if they ask us to. We're not going to be difficult to deal with."

Iorio said asking nonunion workers to take a salary hit is unwise if union workers continue getting their increases.

"That would send a terrible message to our employees - that if you are union you get merit and cost of living and if you are nonunion you get nothing," Iorio said. "I believe you treat all employees fairly."

Still, she said, "We need to reduce the rate of increase in pay. We want to be fair to all employees, but the cost of living and merit must be reduced" as new contracts are negotiated.

Contract Expires In Summer

General city employees covered by the Amalgamated Transit Union got a 3.5 percent cost-of-living raise last year. Merit raises range from 2 percent to 3 percent, depending on performance.

Contract negotiations will be held this summer because the three-year contract expires Sept. 30. Chief of Staff Darrell Smith said the city doesn't intend to reduce the Amalgamated Transit Union's merit raise scale because it was cut during the last round of contract talks.

The police union's contract expires Sept. 30, 2009. Police are in line to receive a 4.5 percent cost-of-living raise in October and an average 4.2 percent step raise for those not already at the top of their pay scale.

The fire union's contract expired Sept. 30. Negotiations deteriorated to the point that an impasse was declared, and the city council likely will settle the contract. The city proposed a 2.3 percent cost-of-living raise and 3.5 percent merit raises.

The fire union wants a 5 percent cost-of-living raise and an average 5 percent step plan increase.

"Some council members have suggested that we ask the unions to reopen their contracts and negotiate a no pay increase, but the reality is we have one union where the contract is currently open and we are at an impasse," Iorio said. "It is unrealistic to expect unions to voluntarily reopen contracts."

Councilman John Dingfelder wants to consider cutting 5 percent from 2009 salaries.

"People wouldn't need to lose their jobs," he said. "We might not even need to do the garbage rate hike. Would it take some effort? Yes. It's much more fair than laying the burden on these 100 employees."

LOCAL GOVERNMENT RAISES

City of Tampa

•The Amalgamated Transit Union will negotiate a new contract this summer. Union members received a 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase last year. Merit raises range from 2 percent to 3 percent.

• The fire union is at an impasse with the city administration. The city has proposed a 2.3 percent cost-of-living increase and a 3.5 percent merit increase for those not at the top of their pay scales. The union has proposed a 5 percent cost-of-living increase and an average 5 percent step plan increase.

• The police union's contract expires Sept. 30, 2009. This year, police will get a 4.5 percent cost-of-living increase and an average 4.2 percent step plan increase for employees not at the top of their pay scales.

• Managers received a 2.5 percent increase last year, and supervisors and professionals received a 3 percent raise. Merit increases range from 2 percent to 3 percent.

Hillsborough County

• Nearly all workers received a 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase last year and will receive the same amount this year.

Source: Tribune research

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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