With four months left until contracts with the police and fire unions is set to expire, the Paducah City Commission is expecting to pass agreements with the Paducah Police Bargaining Unit and Paducah Fire Fighters Local 186.
All sides said that negotiations proceeded without problems. The key issues for both the police fire departments were benefits and wages.
“They wanted a little more reassurance on the death benefit on the insurance, they wanted some longevity built into the contract at 10, 15, and 20 years and then pay,” said Police Chief Brandon Barnhilll.
Both unions’ leaders and the city have agreed to a 1, 1.5 and 2 percent wage increases over 3 years and an increase of in-the-line-of-duty death benefit to $50,000.
City Manager Jeff Pederson said the unions have voted to accept the new contract and that the agreement presented to the commission at Tuesday’s meeting should be passed.
“I would be very surprised if any issue associated with the negotiations came out at the next commission meeting,” said Pederson.
The tentative agreement will be voted on at the next commission meeting. The contracts will last three years.
