At least 80 city employee jobs were saved after the members of the city union Stationary Engineers Local 39 approved a contract with city officials.

City employees passed the contract earlier this month, according to an Aug. 23 e-mail that Interim City Manager Gus Vina sent to city staff and the City Council. Local 39 leaders and city officials negotiated a deal Aug. 6, but the union’s members had not voted on the contract at that time.

The union represents 1,600 full-time city workers, according to Joan Bryant, director of public employees for Local 39. These city employees hold jobs in several areas that include code enforcement, animal care and the solid waste division.

The contract includes a monthly furlough day throughout the two-year period, according to Transportation Department spokeswoman Linda Tucker.

Every employee covered by the contract will have 40 hours of personal leave each year for two years, according to Bryant.

Local 39 employees can only be laid off in fiscal year 2011 if the City Council finds that the Utilities Department is facing a fiscal emergency, Bryant said.

Vina said the contract also puts employees’ salaries on hold for two years.

The City Council is expected to formally approve the contract’s terms on Sept. 7.

Photo by Brandon Darnell.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.