Date: Fri 24-Apr-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

labor-union-contract-town

Full Text:

Town Negotiates Two-Year Pact With Employees

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The 32-member town employees union finally has a new contract, but it is

nearly a year late.

The Board of Selectmen Monday authorized First Selectman Herb Rosenthal to put

his signature on the deal, which will give union members a 2.75 percent

increase in pay for the 1997-98 fiscal year. Under normal circumstances, the

town employees would have negotiated the contract this past summer. However,

the extended negotiations forced the employees to continue working under last

year's contract. Because of the delay, they will receive back pay for the

nearly ten months they went without a contract. To pay for this, the selectmen

Monday also approved the transfer of $16,000.

During the negotiations, the town had presented the union with a 2.5 percent

raise, but the union, Connecticut Service Employees Association (CSEA)

unanimously rejected that offer in February.

According to the contract, the union members will receive a 2.8 percent raise

this coming July and a three percent raise in July of 1999.

Union president Sharon Bowman, a staff member in the tax assessor's office,

said she had "no problem" with the contract.

"We got what we were asking for," she said Tuesday.

The union negotiations began long before Mr Rosenthal took office.

"I don't think it's ever healthy to operate without a contract, so I'm very

happy that it was settled," he said Tuesday.

Under the new contract, employees will also receive a medical insurance

package which will provide a savings to the town.

The town's negotiations team was headed by attorney Nancy Markey, the former

human resources director for the town. Mr Rosenthal hired her as chief

negotiator because of her familiarity with the contract while serving under

former first selectman Bob Cascella.

George Gould of CSEA represented the union at the bargaining table.