AmCan and union workers reach tentative agreement

AMERICAN CANYON >> After more than a year of negotiations, the city of American Canyon and the union representing most of its employees reached a tentative agreement last week on a new five-year contract, officials said.

The 55 workers represented by Teamsters Local 315 were without a contract for some seven months after their last one expired July 1.

City Manager Dana Shigley and union representative Dustin Baumbach said they were pleased to have finally reached an agreement acceptable to both sides.

"We are very excited to have reached tentative agreement with Teamsters for a long-term (5 year) contract," Shigley said. "It took a year of negotiating, but, in the end, everyone came together and got it done. The agreement provides reasonable salary increases for employees while reducing the city’s long-term liabilities associated with retiree costs.

It’s been reported that balancing out the raises, are reduced health care benefits for future retirees.

"On Monday Feb. 6, after nearly a year of negotiations, we came to a tentative agreement with the city," Baumbach said. "That agreement was ratified overwhelmingly by the members and employees at American Canyon. The five year agreement includes annual increases to wages and some language which addresses outstanding concerns. It was a very long process where the bargaining unit for Teamsters and the city worked diligently to come up with a (Memorandum of Understanding) that is fair for both the city of American Canyon and the union employees."

A more detailed final agreement will be brought before the City Council at its Feb. 21 meeting, Shigley said.

The protracted negotiations frayed patience on both sides and brought out union workers to express their displeasure at at least one City Council meeting.

"It took a year of negotiating, but, in the end, everyone came together and got it done."

— Dana Shigley, City Manager