FBCC approves new labor contract for City Employees

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
December 22, 2021

Labor negotiations between the City of Fernandina Beach and the Northeast Florida Public Employees, Local 630, Laborer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA), have concluded with a tentative successor three-year agreement for the period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2024. The LIUNA, Local 630, has ratified the agreement, and at the December 21, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) it was adopted on a unanimous vote of approval. 

Resolution 2021-204 is contingent upon Local 630 ratification, tentatively scheduled for voting on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

Changes within the proposed contract are primarily administrative in nature, but also include wage provisions, sick/personal time carry-forward reductions, Workers’ Compensation reduction, and the addition of Juneteenth as a City holiday (a recent federally-recognized holiday).

Ronnie Burris

Wage provisions officially define the metric for cost of living increases, which will range from a minimum of 1.5% to a maximum of 2.5% (represented staff is also eligible for merit pay increases up to 2%). Savings to be realized from the proposed agreement include a reduction in Workers’ Compensation coverage (from thirteen weeks paid coverage to seven days) and the City’s liability for unused sick/personal time (reduced from 1200 hours to 900 hours then 600 hours).

Ronnie Burris, business manager of Local 630 addressed the FBCC.  He thanked City employees, the negotiating team and the City for a successful negotiating session on LIUNA’s first contract with the City.  He said that a labor contract must be beneficial for employees, the City and the residents as represented by the FBCC.  “We represent about a third of the workforce,” he said, “and I think we did a good job and this is a good contract.”

Public safety employees are covered by separate contracts with other unions.