(May 6, 2008) -- The City Council is scheduled to discuss and vote on proposed five year (instead of the usual three year) agreements with City Hall's non-public-safety city employees (represented by the Int'l Ass'n of Machinists & Aerospace Workers) and LB Firefighters (represented by the LB Firefighters Ass'n).

Below are salient terms:

Non-Public-Safety City Employees (Machinists Union)

• Oct. 2007 1% Gen'l salary increase (1st year of five year contract)
• April 2008: 1% Gen'l salary increase
• Oct. 2008: 3% Gen'l salary increase
• Oct. 2009: 2% Gen'l salary increase
• Oct. 2010: 2% Gen'l salary increase
• Oct. 2011: 2% Gen'l salary increase

(12% total general salary increase over five years).

Also included:

• "Comprehensive classification and compensation study," with a value of 2% of budgeted salaries set aside during the last three years of the contract to "adjust classifications significantly below market" [verbiage of management summary for media]

• Incentivize increased workforce productivity and reduce City costs through gain sharing.

• Special pays adjusted to market over time

• Strengthen labor/management collaboration: (gain sharing, classification/compensation study, interest based problem solving)

• Union support for reducing retirement costs through new approach for future employees: Reduce retirement formula and provide incentive to those actually retiring from Long Beach "to address retention challenges."

Long Beach Firefighters Ass'n

• Jan. 2008: 1% Gen'l salary increase

• April 2008: 2% Gen'l salary increase

• October 2008: 3% Firefighter & battalion Chief

• Oct. 2009: Increases by Classification

  2.9% Firefighter
  2.8% Engineeer
  1.5% Captain
  8.8% Battalion Chief

• Oct. 2010: Adjustment to 2% below true median by rank (2% minimum and 6% cap)

• Oct. 2011: Adjustment to true median by rank (2% minimum and 6% cap)

• Oct. 2012: Adjustment to true median by rank (2% minimum and 6% cost cap)

Also: Longevity pay: For 10 and 15 years of service to address potential retention issues

Early retirement incentive: Requires retirement by Dec. 31, 2008, generates an estimated $400,000 in annual savings.