TAMPA – Chanting "No justice, no peace!" more than 30 union workers, including several city employees, protested outside city hall this morning. ...more

December 20, 2007

Teachers turned out in record numbers Friday to vote on a new contract that will close the salary gap between Hernando County and surrounding districts. ...more

December 17, 2007

The city is investigating whether several inspectors in its fire marshal's office improperly accepted gifts to sporting events or other favors. ...more

December 14, 2007

SEBRING — One school bus driver hopes the district's support workers vote down the tentative contract agreement Sunday so a better salary increase can be negotiated. According to the School Board of Highlands County, the tentative agreement reached Nov. 9 calls for an average salary increase of 4 percent and a total salary and benefit package increase of 5.86 percent. According to the tentative agreement, each pay step will increase by 2 percent. Each year everyone moves up a step, except the senior employees, who have reached the top pay step. About one-third of the 700 support staff are at the top of the salary schedule and will be getting a 2 percent raise. "When we vote on our contract, we are voting on a 2 percent increase — period," said Mary Hein, a bus driver. "We are not voting on 4 percent. It would be nice if they increased my step by 4 percent, but they are not." The substitute drivers would only get a 2 percent raise because their pay is solely based on hourly salary, she said. ...more

November 28, 2007

SEBRING — Teachers overwhelmingly approved their employment contract Friday, which represents about a 9 to 11 percent increase in salary and benefits over an 18-month period starting Dec. 1. Also, the number of pay steps have been reduced for the second consecutive year, which helps teachers move up the pay ladder faster, said chief negotiator and union president Steve Picklesimer. Two years ago there were 19 steps. Last year two steps were eliminated. This year's agreement cut out four more steps resulting in a total of 13 steps. The 18-month contract roughly represents a 3 - 4 percent increase in salary and benefits this year and a 6 - 7 percent increase in salary and benefits next year, Picklesimer said Monday. ...more

November 6, 2007

SEBRING — After just one day of contract talks, negotiators for the Highlands County School District and the support professionals union agreed upon all language issues, but could not reach agreement on salaries. Both sides decided Tuesday to bring in a federal mediator in an effort to reach a tentative contract agreement. ...more

October 18, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - Teachers in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties know or have an idea of what kind of raises they're getting, but this year's salary schedule remains a mystery for teachers and other school workers in Pasco. ...more

October 18, 2007

SEBRING — The Highlands County School District and the teachers union reached a tentative agreement Wednesday on an 18-month teachers contract. ...more

October 10, 2007

The Fraternal Order of Police sent a strong message to city officials Tuesday, calling for the ouster of Miami Police Chief John Timoney in an unusual no-confidence vote. ...more

September 5, 2007