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K. Riley Salon to open for business April 8 in Wyoming

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Talker: Animal carcasses in Pa. park are for environmental study

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The city&#8217;s poor financial shape has affected labor negotiations and what&#8217;s been put on the table with some of the unions, city Administrator Ted Wampole said.</p><p>The city has focused on offering short extensions instead of negotiating new, multi-year contracts, Wampole said Friday.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been very encouraged by the discussions we&#8217;ve been having,&#8221; Wampole said of ongoing talks with two of the city&#8217;s four unions.</p><p>He was optimistic a deal would soon be reached.</p><p>&#8220;I would anticipate that it&#8217;s something not too far down the road,&#8221; Wampole said</p><p>The talks have taken place in the context of the city possibly falling under Act 47 and the tight controls on spending that would ensue. Since taking office last year Mayor Tony George has been warning of deficits due to unrealistic revenue projections from the past administration and ballooning debt service and pension payment in the coming years. In an attempt to avoid distressed status under the act, the city has been working with a consultant, The PFM Group of Philadelphia, and entered the state&#8217;s Early Intervention Program in order to improve its finances and maintain control of operations.</p><p>The city would need financial flexibility under Act 47 and the Laborers&#8217; International Union of North America Local 1310 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 401 have been understanding, Wampole said.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been open, and the unions, they know our financial positions,&#8221; Wampole said. For that the city is &#8220;very appreciative,&#8221; he added.</p><p>The business manager of LIUNA Local 1310, Thomas Borum was out of town Friday and unavailable for comment. The union represents City Hall workers and paramedics. Pat Connors, of Teamsters Local 401, did not return a phone call. The Teamsters represents Department of Public Works employees.</p><p>Three-year contracts with the two unions and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 104 expired last year.</p><p>The city and Local 104 finished arbitration hearings this week. &#8220;That&#8217;s in the hands of the arbitrator,&#8221; Wampole said.</p><p>The five-year contract with the Wilkes-Barre City Police Benevolent Association runs through 2019.</p><p><ins>For other local news stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/local" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Labor negotiations with Wilkes-Barre union’s focus on extensions