Lori I Day, Director

Human Resources & Administrative Services

Issue Statement:  The Federation of Public Employees (FOPE) represents approximately 70 employees in the City, all of which are in the Public Works Department. Positions covered by FOPE include foremen, utility technicians, equipment operators, and others.  The collective bargaining contract between FOPE and the City expired on September 30, 2021, and is currently in a brief "holdover" status while the parties have continued to engage in collective bargaining.  The parties recently reached an agreement on a new contract. To become effective, the contract must be ratified by both the City and members of FOPE. FOPE members voted to ratify the agreement on October 19, 2021.

Recommended Action:  The City Commission adopt a resolution ratifying the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Federation of Public Employees (FOPE) and the City of Oakland Park for the period of October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2023.

The City and FOPE have negotiated a new contract for the time period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2023. FOPE held a ratification vote for its members on October 19, 2021, at which time the contract was ratified by the members. The contract must now be approved by the City Commission.

Significant changes to the prior contract include:

Wages - Article 24 

• A 3% wage increase retroactive to the first full pay period in October 2021;
• A 3% wage increase the first full pay period of October 2022;
• A 3% salary range adjustment effective October 1, 2021 and October 1, 2022. These adjustments mean that even members who are currently "topped out" will receive full 3% base wage increases each year, and will also help keep the City competitive for hiring and retention purposes.
• A $500 one-time incentive payment for all members who provide evidence that they have been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.

Holidays - Article 16

• An additional floating holiday each fiscal year to be used for Juneteenth in 2022 and 2023. Should Juneteenth be added to the City's official list of City holidays by the City Commission at some point in the future, this additional floating holiday will expire.

Paid Time Off - Article 15

• One new personal leave day for members for each year of the agreement which must be used during the fiscal year or it will expire. These personal leave days will be subject to the same requirements as PTO days (prior departmental approval).

Note that the enhancements described above have also been offered and tentatively agreed to by the City's American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) bargaining unit, which represents clerical/administrative staff.  This tentative agreement is subject to their members' ratification.

In keeping with the Commission's policy on parity for general employees, a separate agenda item will be brought forward at this meeting awarding the same wage and range increases to non-bargaining unit employees. A separate item will be brought forward once the Civil Service Board has an opportunity to review the additional enhancements of leave which require amendments to the Civil Service Rules.

Negotiations continue with the City's International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) bargaining unit. IAFF is the City's sole public safety union and members have a completely different salary structure and leave accrual and use policies when compared to the general employees covered by FOPE, AFSCME, and civil service.

Costs associated with this agreement have been factored into the fiscal year 2022 budget, and will be considered when developing the fiscal year 2023 budget.