LORAIN — The Lorain Public Library System and the union representing its employees have reached a tentative agreement that would mean 12 fewer positions would be eliminated to balance the budget.

The Service Employees International Union Local 1199 on Friday ratified a memorandum of understanding calling for a wage freeze through March 2011 and the discontinuation of health care bonuses for part-time employees, which means the jobs lost will drop from 32 to 20.

Already, exempt and management employees have a wage freeze in place.

The library board will be asked to approve the agreement at Thursday’s 5 p.m. meeting at the North Ridgeville branch, 35700 Bainbridge Road.

The library system had sought concessions to cover a $1.1 million cut from the state’s Public Library Fund.

Library Director Joanne Eldridge said the library system also will offer early retirement incentives to employees who have 18 years or more of service.

Those who take early retirement would get 100 percent pay for up to 800 hours of accumulated sick time.
Each person who takes early retirement, Eldridge said, would save a layoff.

Offers for early retirement will begin Feb. 6 if the deal is approved, Eldridge said.

Eldridge said the layoffs should be complete by the end of February.

“This is the new reality,” she said. “Between lower state funding, lower property values and the amount of foreclosures, we’re not going to be seeing any new money anytime soon.”

Contact Melissa Hebert at 329-7129 or mhebert@chroniclet.com.

---

Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.

---