West Hollywood : 3.3% Raise for Mid-Managers

The City Council has approved a 3.3% cost-of-living raise for the city’s 19 mid-level managers and increased the amounts they can earn in the future, prompting criticism from the union representing rank-and-file City Hall employees.

The move to improve salary ranges was in response to a study last year finding that salaries for local employees were as a group lower than managers in many other Southern California cities.

The two-year contract shifted managers’ health insurance to a state-run retirement program. The city has insured itself but is easing away from that because of rapidly rising costs.

The pact drew fire from members of the roughly 100-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3339, who argued that the raises were inappropriate at a time when three of their own members have been targeted for layoffs. Contract talks between the city and AFSCME have snagged over pay, health insurance and a layoff policy.