THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407200104
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEPHANIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
The City Council infuriated many employees by tacking on an extra half-hour to their day, increasing their workweek from 35 hours to 37.5 hours.
But it may just be temporary, with a 40-hour week not far behind.
``I think that's on the horizon,'' Vice Mayor Arthur L. Dwyer said last Friday of the 8-hour day that is the norm in the private sector.
With the council's OK on July 12, Chesapeake became the last city in the region to abandon the 35-hour workweek.
``We're now in line with the majority of Hampton Roads cities,'' Deputy City Manager Clarence Cuffee said.
Only one-third of the city's employees - mostly office workers - were affected by the council's decision. The remainder are working 40 hours a week and will continue to do so.
Dwyer said he still doesn't like the disparity.
``I don't think it's fair that some people are working 37-and-a-half hours a week and others are working 40 hours,'' he said.
While the city manager can change the workweek at his discretion, the decision irked some city employees because it came as a surprise. Officials had discussed the matter privately at an eastern Virginia resort the weekend before the decision.
When the extra hours appeared on the agenda, city workers were stunned and had little opportunity to fight the proposal.
In addition, employees say this year's 3 percent merit raise doesn't equate to a raise after adding 2.5 hours a week - a 7 percent jump in the workweek. The raise was included in the city's new pay and compensation plan approved earlier this month.
``The pay plan alleges to give a 3 percent raise to workers,'' said Jim Clark, a Social Services employee. ``But the extra hours have obliterated whatever raise has been given.''
Other workers haven't been as polite, calling the new pay system and the extra work-hours the ``Republican no-pay plan.''
The city manager and council members went to Windmill Point on July 9-10 to hammer out the pay plan and to discuss other matters. A few days later, the council passed the pay plan. MEMO: CITY WORKWEEKS\ For salaried employees:
Chesapeake 37.5 hours
Portsmouth 37.5 hours
Virginia Beach 37.5 hours
Norfolk 40 hours
Suffolk 40 hours by CNB