GIRARD — City council has ratified contracts with three unions that includes pay increases over the next three years, but also — for the first time in city history — requires health care contributions by employees.

Council met in special session Wednesday to approve new contracts for AFSCME Ohio Council 8 and Local 3356, which represents 31 employees in the water and street department, custodial staff and office staff; Girard Professional Firefighters IADD Local 1120, which represents 12 firefighters; and Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, which represents 12 to 14 patrol officers and dispatchers.

Safety Service Director Sal Ponzio said all employees in the three unions will receive a $1 per hour increase in 2025, and $1.25 per hour increases in both 2026 and 2027.

“One of the biggest changes is for the first time in Girard’s history, employees will make contributions to their health care, which will be 3% starting the second year of the contract. They receive a $1 increase per hour the first year without having to make any contribution. We wanted the employees to receive pay increases since they are making concessions with their health care,” Ponzio said.

He said Auditor Julie Coggins approved the amounts, stating the city can afford to give the raises.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said negotiations went well and all three unions ratified the new agreements.

Ponzio said arbitration was avoided to save on legal fees.The three contracts are all effective January 2025 to December 2027.

For the AFSCME workers, there is a $50 per year increase in the clothing and maintenance allowance. The firefighters uniform allowance increased from $800 to $1,200. It has not been increased for several contracts. Firefighters also will see an increase from $1 to $1.50 per hour for hours spent performing inspections and inspection related duties.

For patrolmen and dispatchers, the uniform allowance was increased to $100.

Ponzio said employees agreed to drop one step on the wage scale so that the starting rate of pay was at 90% of the top rate of pay.