Sioux Falls workers getting rare mid-contract raises

Officials say labor agreements aren't keeping up with inflation

A competitive labor market coupled with historic inflation has some Sioux Falls public employees getting unscheduled raises.

The bulk of unionized employees on City Hall’s payroll will receive between 2.5 and 4 percent raises next month after the City Council Tuesday approved the pay hikes that were not negotiated as part of the most recent labor negotiations with the International Association of Fire Fighters, Fraternal Order of Police and the civil service union.

“We’ve already locked in labor contracts and in tackling this issue, there’s a gap between what was agreed to and certainly what’s happening in the real world,” Sioux Falls Human Resources Director Bill O’Toole said.

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In other words, negotiated wages in the labor contracts with police, fire and civil servants aren’t keeping up with what’s being paid by other organizations pulling from the same labor pool.