Union workers reject pay
freeze plan

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Dayton City employee unions have voted unanimously to reject the city's proposal to forego their wage increases. Late Friday night, union leaders had a conference call with city officials to inform them of their decision.

Dayton city manager, Rashad Young, had previously asked the unions to accept a pay freeze and not accept their already negotiated three-percent pay increase next year. The request was part of Young plan to shave $2.7 million off the city's projected $13.6 million deficit.

Randy Beane, President of the Dayton Fraternal Order of Police, said the members thought long and hard about the request but, in the end could not agree to the terms. Ninety-eight-percent of all the officers, and 95-percent of the supervisors voted against the proposed wage freeze.

The Dayton Firefighters union and the Dayton Public Service Union also turned down the proposal, but leaders were not available for comment Friday night.

Young said the unions decision to reject the wage freeze was disappointing. "We knew it would be a hard request, a tough ask," said Young. "This was an effort for us to save jobs and protect the services we provide. But, we'll go back and find a way to live within our resources."

Young says deeper cuts and additional layoffs are inevitable and the public safety sectors will not be immune. According to the city manager police and fire services account for 50-percent of the city's general fund.