Union workers for the city of Peoria are receiving a 5% one-time payment to recognize "superior public service," officials said.
Peoria City Council approved the measure at their Dec. 12 public meeting.
City Manager Henry Darwin said members of the American Federation of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees union in Peoria are facing increased challenges to recruit and retain employees, which hampers the ability to provide vital services.
Therefore, Darwin asked for the city council’s approval of a 5% discretionary lump sum payment to recognize the superior public service provided by eligible AFSCME employees.
This helps in responding effectively to the challenges of employee turnover, increased workload, and unprecedented inflation, he said.
“AFSCME employees have the average lowest wage among regular status employees, and a lump sum payment is one way of recognizing and reconciling these factors,” Darwin said.
He added that AFSCME employees represent the largest group within the workforce, earn the lowest annual wage, and have experienced significant turnover in the past 17 months.
“Higher turnover leads to temporary increases in workload, putting strain on existing employees,” Darwin said at the meeting. “Addressing the challenges posed by turnover, increased workload, and inflation through a lump sum payment will not only demonstrate your commitment to the workforce but also contribute to a positive and motivated work environment.”
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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