In latest union deal, Burbank managers agree to forgo bonuses

The Burbank Management Assn. this week became the latest group of city employees to forgo bonuses and contribute to their pensions.

The City Council on Tuesday approved the new contract, which runs through June 2012 and will require managers to start paying 1% of the city’s 8% share of their contribution to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. New hires will pay 4% of the contribution.

Eventually, the city’s goal is to have all city manager cover half the cost.

Calling the negotiations a “give and take,” Councilman Gary Bric thanked the union “for stepping up and accepting some of the concessions we asked for.”

The deal will save the city roughly $463,400 in bonus pay alone, and the employee contributions to benefits could save up to about $616,600 for the fiscal year, according to the city.

Mayor Jess Talamantes thanked the union “for working so well with us and coming to some sort of conclusion.”

The latest round of employee concessions follows the deal struck earlier this year with the city’s largest union, the Burbank City Employees’ Assn., which claims roughly 740 workers.

Union members in that deal agreed to pay an increasing share of their pension contributions and give up bonuses for three years. By 2014, members will be contributing 4% of the city’s share of the pension cost, according to Management Services Director Judie Wilke.

The city has already suspended bonuses for managers and executives who aren’t represented by unions.

Agreements are pending with the unions representing firefighters and their chief officers and utility workers, Wilke said in an email.

Police union members and the city recently reached to a tentative agreement, but details won’t be disclosed until the City Council publicly discusses the proposed contract in in mid-January, officials said.

-- Maria Hsin, Times Community News

Twitter: @mariahsin