Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti’s administration and the union representing the city’s Department of Public Works reached a new labor agreement more than a year after the old collective bargaining agreement expired.
The new agreement includes modest pay raises each year, increases employee cost sharing for health care, lifts the requirement that DPW employees live in Scranton and gives city officials the ability to mandate employees work flex-shifts for emergencies like snowstorms and flooding.
The new agreement, which expires at the end of 2029, was introduced and, ultimately, formally approved during a meeting Tuesday of Scranton City Council. Typically, ordinances require three votes before they become law, but council opted to suspend that rule so administration officials could immediately execute the new labor agreement.
Council members also suspended the rule to move quickly on freeing up $225,000 from a contingency fund so the city can pay DPW employees raises.
DPW employees have been working under an expired contract since the end of 2024.
The new contract pays $2,500 to people who were full time employees before 2025 began. Those who completed their probationary period between Jan. 1, 2025 and June 30, will get a prorated amount.
Wages will go up in July — $2.00 an hour for auto repair, equipment vehicle maintenance, mechanic and heavy equipment operator positions and $1.50 for everyone else. They’ll go up again in 2027 and 2028 by 3% each year and by another dollar-an-hour in 2029.
However, DPW employees will have to pay steeper co-payments for doctors visits and for prescription medications. A $35 co-pay for an primary care doctor visit in 2026 will cost $50 by 2029.
Regarding scheduling, city officials said the ability to mandate shits will give them more flexibility during weather-related emergencies. Mass callouts during a large snowstorm in January prompted the city to hire outside contractors to help with snow removal, which the city estimated could cost nearly a half-million dollars. Council on Tuesday introduced an ordinance to free up $324,880 for payment on those bills.
The new contract gives the city discretion to implement 12-hour flex shifts they could mandate people to work if enough people don’t volunteer.