What you need to know
Members of the HOPE Labor Union entered into contract negotiations in April with Houston Mayor John Whitmire to seek higher compensation.
Whitmire announced a tentative agreement during a news conference Sept. 23 and after passing through the Labor Committee, the finalized agreement was officially approved in October.
According to the agenda packet, the contract includes a 3.5% pay increase over three years. Minimum pay for 2024 will be $16.75 an hour. In 2026, it will cap out at $18 an hour.
Other benefits include:
- Increasing longevity pay to $3 per bi-weekly pay period for each year of completed service
- Guaranteed 24 hours of paid personal leave each year
- Additional pay for eligible bilingual employees
- Expanded representation and onsite access to Union Stewards
In related news
Council members also approved an amendment to the City's Master Pay Structure to create 11 new jobs such as airport parking development administrator, city engineer, finance manager, library associate and senior benefits associate.
Changes to the city's pay grade structure, as established in the 2024 Meet and Confer Agreement with HOPE, also included raising the minimum seasonal employee pay to $13 an hour as well as adjusting positions under pay grade 5 to be above the city's new minimum wage of $16.75 an hour.
