Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • June 27, 2012 Franklin Lakes Council approves employee union contract by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Council has approved a collective bargaining agreement with the borough’s American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees AFLCIO Local 2274B, which represents various municipal employees. The agreement is for Jan. 1, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2014, and it is retroactive to Jan. 1. The contract incorporates the full, final, and complete agreement between the borough and AFSCME employees and it modifies certain articles and provisions of the existing collective bargaining agreement that expired on Dec. 31, 2011. The agreement calls for salary increases for all employees represented by AFSCME, except for those employees who will receive step increases during each year that this contract is in effect. Those salary increases will be 1.5 percent for 2012, 1.75 percent for 2013, and 1.75 percent for 2014. Any employee who receives a step increase in salary during any year this contract is in effect will not receive any additional increase in salary, including the percentage salary increases provided to other employees. All step increases will remain at the same levels as set forth in the collective bargaining agreement that expired on Dec. 31, 2011. There will be no increase in the salary increments (steps) during the term of this contract. AFSCME members agreed that the borough may change the health insurance plan to the BMED Match Plan for medical insurance and the Bollinger Match Plan for prescription insurance. Those changes are consistent with the borough’s right to change insurance carriers or institute a self-insurance program as long as the same, or substantially similar, benefits are provided. Some other aspects of the agreement include a DPW boot allowance of up to $ 250 per year; DPW payment for on-call time at the same rate as one day’s pay; and minimum call-in time of two hours; all of which memorialize existing practices. The agreement also states that overtime at time and one half will be paid for work in excess of 40 hours per week. The regular work week for DPW employees is 37.5 hours, and the regular work week for borough hall employees is 35 hours. Work on Sundays and holidays will be paid at double time regardless of whether the employee has worked in excess of 40 hours per week. In the event the borough hall is closed because of a storm, or for any other reason, AFSMCE members will not be entitled to additional compensation or leave time.