On February 16, 1999, the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District and the National Association of Government Employees successfully negotiated a new three-year Labor-Management agreement.

Major points of the agreement include:

• Basic Wage Increases – First year 3.00 %
                                      Second Year 2.00 %
                                      Third Year 2.00%

• Skilled Classification Incentives – Additional 1% of the compensation package will be dedicated to a skills based incentive plan for wastewater operators, skilled craft positions and utility workers. This will provide the incentive for workers to broaden their skills while allowing MSD the ability to deploy smaller crews to more work sites.

• Beginning July 1, 1999, MSD employee health contributions for medical/dental insurance will increase from the present 9.5% to 11%. The remaining two years of the agreement will see annual increases to 13% and 15% of the total health insurance premium.

The new agreement reflects commitments by MSD and NAGE as follows:

• Mutual support to implement aggressive cross training;
• Mutual support to field multi-skilled work groups; and
• Mutual support for increased flexibility between department disciplines to better serve the customer.

The new agreement is a reflection of MSD’s efforts to provide its customers with the highest level of service at the lowest possible costs.

If you have questions concerning the information, please contact MSD Executive Director Gordon R. Garner, at 540-6346 or MSD Community Relations and Emergency Response Director Bud Schardein, at 540-6319 or pager number 455-6482.

Thank you.

cc: Honorable David Armstrong, Mayor, City of Louisville
        Honorable Rebecca Jackson, County Judge/Executive
        MSD Board
        MSD Executive Team
        Tom Clark, Union President – Local R5-189
        Lee Hatchett, Union President – Local R5-191
        Area Team Leaders
        Jolyn Colon