LANCASTER : 150 City Workers Won’t Get Pay Hikes
The Lancaster City Council has approved new labor agreements with the city’s non-union employees, including department heads, that will provide them no regular salary increases for the coming two years because of the slumping economy and tight city finances.
Assistant City Manager Dennis Davenport said the decision, in a 5-0 vote Monday night, will mark the first time since Lancaster incorporated in 1977 that city employees will go two years without a cost-of-living increase.
Earlier this year, Lancaster laid off 15 employees to cut costs.
Davenport said the latest council action affects slightly more than 150 of the city’s remaining work force of more than 200.
The city also has a freeze on merit raises that Davenport said is likely to continue.
Contract negotiations are pending with the city’s unionized employees, he said.
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