Longview city leaders and representatives of three employee unions gathered Friday to celebrate a historic agreement that means a pay cut for city workers and a huge financial break for the city.

As Longview struggles to bridge a $1.5 million budget gap, one by one, union leaders took the podium at City Hall to explain how they came to do their part to help.

Jason McClung, president of the Employees Bargaining Association, said he didn’t think at any point his members felt unwilling to shoulder their share of the burden.

“From the EBA standpoint, all of us are members of the community, live in Longview, and that’s basically what it’s for. It’s for Longview,” he said.

In the agreement with the city, members of the EBA, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO Local 1242-CL, and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3375-Chief Officers Association will take nine unpaid days off this year. It’s the same as a 3 percent pay cut, said City Manager Bob Gregory.

Non-union city employees also are taking the unpaid furlough days, which will result in shutdowns of all but essential city operations one day a month beginning April 10.

“We gave these folks cost of living allowances at the beginning of the year, and we’re taking them back. They’re pay cuts. This is what we’re doing,” Gregory said. “This is affecting their daily livelihoods, and I appreciate it.”

This is the first time the city has had to open contracts and ask unions to make concessions, he said, calling it a “momentous time for the city of Longview.” Their sacrifice would save the city more than $300,000 this year, he said. Without the unpaid furloughs, the city would be forced to lay off workers, which would impact city services much more than office closures once a month, he said.

Union leaders were open to discussing the furloughs from the day Gregory raised the issue.

“As individuals, we can make small concessions to help out the city. … We have to remember that on the whole, the city is a family, too,” said Sutthira Thok-Hartley, vice president of AFSCME.

Longview Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Taylor said members of his union agreed to the unpaid furloughs “in a sense of community.”

“We can live with it,” Taylor said.

Stephanie Sparks, executive secretary at City Hall, said non-union employees such as herself are grateful the city is taking the steps necessary to preserve jobs.

“I appreciate the unwavering leadership at this time because I know it hasn’t been easy on you guys as well,” Sparks said.

The city has five employee unions. Not at the meeting was the Longview Police Guild, which has decided to take its chances at binding arbitration rather than bargain on pay freezes, according to Gregory. By eliminating cost-of-living increases for police, the city would save $150,000 a year, he said.

The city is in the midst of negotiations with the International Association of Firefighters Local 828 over making cost-of-living wage concessions. Gregory said Friday he’s “optimistic” about reaching an agreement, expressing thanks to city Human Resources Director Robbie Berg for handling the difficult task of negotiations.

It would be impractical for police and firefighters to take unpaid furloughs because emergency responders provide an essential service, Gregory said. Employee furloughs in those departments would result in overtime pay to keep staffing at the proper level.

Councilman Ken Botero said the public is pleased to hear about the employees’ concessions during an economic crisis.

“The citizens out there thank you guys for what you did,” he said.

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City of Longview unpaid furloughs to begin April 10