Title
Collective Bargaining Agreement 2024-2028 with Association of Municipal Engineers (AME)
Body
Agenda of: April 23, 2025
Item No.: 2025-134
Amount: N/A
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: April 14, 2025
RE: Collective Bargaining Agreement 2024- 2028 with Association of Municipal Engineers (AME)
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Jordie Kramer, Chief Organizational Development Officer, and William M. Wolfson, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), authorizes the GLWA’s Chief Executive Officer to execute a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Association of Municipal Engineers (AME) for a term ending June 30, 2028; and authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
AME and GLWA reached a tentative agreement on a CBA covering the period June 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028. AME has waived ratification of the tentative agreement on that CBA.
JUSTIFICATION
The following aspects of the CBA are highlighted:
1. Acceptance of New Title. AME will represent GLWA team members in the classification of Pretreatment Program Specialist - Engineer.
2. No additional guaranteed or automatic annual pay adjustments. GLWA utilizes a performance-based system of pay adjustment. Consistent with other GLWA CBA’s and its Terms of Employment, there are no guaranteed or automatic annual pay adjustments in this CBA. GLWA team members are evaluated on an annual basis and any prospective adjustment to their pay is made based upon performance and within available budgeted resources.
3. No change to retirement, medical, or other related benefits. The proposed CBA with AME reflects the same retirement, healthcare, and other benefits package offered to other unionized GLWA employees.
4. Signing Bonus. Eligible AME members will receive a signing bonus consisting of a one-time payment of $1,000 per member at the time of signing of the CBA, a 2% wage adjustment on May 30, 2025, a 1% wage adjustment at the time of the first pay in May 2026, and a 2% wage adjustment at the time of the first pay in May 2027.
BUDGET IMPACT
The signing bonus for eligible members of the bargaining unit reflected in the proposed CBA was anticipated in GLWA’s budget and there are sufficient resources available to make this adjustment.
COMMITTEE REVIEW
The CBA is presented directly to the full Board.
SHARED SERVICES IMPACT
This item does not impact the shared services agreement between GLWA and DWSD.