Wage increases for unionized city workers explained

The Decorah City Clerk's Office is clarifying financial figures used during a discussion of wages paid to union-covered city employees.

Earlier discussion of 2014's wage and benefit increases for union workers said they were getting a 6 percent pay raise.  However, the union workers are getting a 2.2 percent cost of living increase, effective July 1st.

The confusion results from the fact that some unionized city employees who are not at the top step of their pay scale--14 of a group of 39 employees--are also eligible for a step increase on their employment anniversary date—as agreed in the union contract.  25 out of 39 employees will not be eligible this year for this increase, which averages 4 percent. 

So if you average 2.2 percent the pay raises for the 25 employees not getting step increases with the 6.2 percent pay raises for the 14 employees eligible for step increases, the total pay raises being given to unionized city employees average 3.63 percent.