Dec. 1—PITTSTON TWP. — Parking fees will likely rise soon at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, the assistant airport director said Wednesday.
Speaking after an airport board meeting, Gary Borthwick said airport officials are reviewing neighboring airports' parking fees before deciding on a specific increase. He said the higher fees and increased hangar rental fees will help pay for a new union contract with the airport's 25 mechanics, maintenance staff and firefighters. Airport hangars house private airplanes.
The board approved increasing the hangar rental fee from $4.75 per square foot to $5.50 per square foot, a 15.8% increase. The increase is effective Feb. 1 with the first payment at the new rate due Feb. 28.
The union contract will mean $2-an-hour increases in pay for all the employees retroactive to Nov. 4; another $1.50 an hour in January 2023 and 2024; 50 cents an hour in January 2025 and 2.5% in January 2026. The contract expires Jan. 20, 2027.
Under current salaries, employees classified as maintenance 2 earn $15.16 an hour and maintenance 1, $16.34 an hour. Firefighters earn $16.65 an hour and mechanics, $17.24 an hour.
The share employees pay toward health insurance premiums will rise from 14% to 14.5% on Jan. 1; 15% on Jan. 1, 2024; 15.5% on Jan. 1, 2025; 16% on Jan. 1, 2026; and 16.5% on Jan. 1, 2027.
Borthwick said he did not have an estimate of the contract's total cost, but said raises will help attract qualified staff.
"It makes us more competitive with the Chewy's of the world here," he said, referring to the large pet food supplier that employs hundreds at local warehouses. "We've been having a very hard time getting good people."
In other business, the board:
—Heard airport director Carl Beardsley Jr. report 18,980 passengers flew out of the airport in October, 20% more than October 2021.
—Awarded Cintas Corp. of Wilkes-Barre an $18,329 annual contract to supply and clean staff work uniforms.
—Hired Sam Danaher of Hugestown to a maintenance 2 position.
—Authorized $89,460 more to pay McFarland Johnson Inc. for engineering services related to part of the main runway's southern taxiway extension.
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@BorysBlogTT
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