The City of Long Beach and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have reached a tentative three-year labor agreement. IBEW represents City employees in the Skilled and General Basic and Supervisor Units, according to a statement by the City.
The City workers in these units were previously represented by the Association of Long Beach Employees (ALBE).
“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “I want to thank IBEW leadership for their support and work in reaching this agreement—one that ensures fair wages and equity.”
The City and IBEW collaborated on a tentative agreement to address fair and competitive compensation for City employees amid the current job market conditions. The agreement includes an equity-driven approach, with “equity adjustments” in salaries ranging from 1% to 20% for job classifications based on their deviation from market rates:
- 1% for classifications 0 to 10% below market median.
- 8% for classifications 10 to 20% below market median.
- 12% to 17% for classifications 20 to 40% below market median.
- 20% for classifications 40% or more below market median.
This approach aims to ensure fair compensation for retention and recruitment, enhancing the City’s attractiveness as an employer.
According to a public statement by the City, the tentative agreement also features:
- A three-year contract term from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2026.
- General wage increases of 3% in the first year and 1% in the second and third years.
- One-time equity adjustments for specific IBEW Skilled and General supervisory unit classifications (ranging from 1% to 20%).
- Updates to skill pay, including removal or modification of inactive or obsolete skill pays and new skill pays to support departmental needs.
- Adjustments to special compensation, including night shift differential pay, higher classification pay, standby pay and boot allowance.
- Revisions to employee benefits, such as bereavement leave, paid parental leave, vacation accrual, sick leave and support for the Education Assistance Program.
Before reaching this agreement, City and IBEW representatives conducted three meetings, beginning in April. The agreement received approval from IBEW on May 23. It will be brought to the Long Beach City Council for consideration and public discussion on Oct. 10.
