The city of Monroe has approved a new three-year contract with the union representing its water and street departments.

Council by a 6-0 vote Tuesday, , passed an emergency resolution to authorize City Manager William Brock to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 100. Councilman Bob Kelley was absent.

Under the agreement, Brock said 15 employees from the water and street department will receive an annual 3 percent step increase for each three years of the contract, which takes effect July 1, and runs through June 30, 2012.

If warranted, the employees also will receive a merit increase on their anniversary to the next step, Brock said.

The union’s current three-year contract, which began on July 1, 2006, expires on June 30, he said.

Brock said Brad Collins, the city’s director of public works, and himself spent about eight hours working on the agreement.

“It was good negotiations. It went very smoothly and it went very quickly. They were a very good group to work with,” he said.

The union, which has agreed to the new terms, is scheduled to ratify the contract today, , Brock said.

Ron Butts, the union’s representative, could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

The agreement also calls for union workers to be paid overtime if they must work during a holiday rather than receive holiday time compensation.

Under the deal, Brock said the union’s vacation schedule also has been amended to match the police and fire contracts.

“The vacation accrual schedule is compressed. Employees will now receive an additional week of vacation at 5. 10 and 20 years rather than 8, 15, and 25,” he said.

The employees share of the health insurance costs also will match other bargaining agreements by increasing the union’s share to 14 percent from 12.5 percent beginning Jan. 1, 2010.

In addition, Brock said, the contract increases the clothing allowance for each employee in the union to $150 from $100 annually.