Members of the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ have ratified a new four year contract agreement with the City of Allentown.

The pact covers more than 260 SEIU employees in the administrative offices, EMS/Para Police, and Health Bureau and in the departments of public works and parks. It replaces a six year contract that expires December 31, 2016.

The contract includes annual wage increases of 1.75%, 2.5% and 2% in January of the first three years, an additional 1% in July 2019 and 3% in January 2020.

Mayor Ed Pawlowski praised union negotiators for their willingness to come to the table and get a contract hashed out in a timely manner. He said the contract extension through 2020 means the city will have a handle on those labor costs in future budgets.

The new pact also keeps SEIU employees in the SEIU medical plan, a change that was made in the previous contract which caps the city's medical exposure for its largest employee base.

--30--