Cleveland City Council Approves New Labor Contract for 952 Municipal Workers

Cleveland City Council has passed an emergency ordinance to finalize a new three-year labor contract with the Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME Local 100). The agreement, passed under File No. 663-2026, covers city employees from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2028.

What's in the file

The ordinance ratifies a collective bargaining agreement that establishes a 3% base wage increase for each year of the contract term. Beyond the general increase, the agreement includes targeted hourly pay adjustments for specific roles identified by management as having "extreme difficulty in recruiting and retaining" staff.

According to the 663-2026-A File, these adjustments include:

* Building and Planning: Additional hourly increases for Residential Building Inspectors (I, II, and III), Residential Plan Examiners, Assistant Plan Examiners, Elevator Inspectors, and Interim Building/Mechanical Inspectors.
* Clerical and Data: Increases for Senior Data Conversion Operators, Principal Clerks, Senior Clerks, and Junior Clerks.
* Airport and Public Safety: Additional pay for Airport Terminal Operations Agents and ARFF Paramedics (who will see wage increases matching ARFF Local 93 Paramedics).
* Infrastructure: A new wage scale for Traffic Sign and Marking Technicians I and II.
* Environmental and Grant-Funded Roles: New pay scales for Environmental Compliance/Enforcement/Monitoring Specialists 1 and 2. These positions are fully funded by air quality grants to meet EPA regulations. Additionally, Community Development Rehab Inspectors will receive an extra $2.00 per hour to assist with recruitment.

Who may be affected

The contract affects approximately 952 city employees represented by AFSCME Local 100. Specific departments and roles mentioned include the Airport, Public Safety, and various inspection and clerical divisions.

Status and timeline

The ordinance was introduced on May 15, 2026, following a tentative agreement reached in April 2026 and a membership ratification held on May 6, 2026. The legislation has officially passed.

Residents can verify the details of this agreement and the specific wage adjustments by reviewing the official record at Cleveland City Council.

Source record

File
663-2026
Type
Emergency Ordinance
Status
Passed
Committee
City Council
Introduced
May 14, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar

Official documents