Date: Fri 13-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

town-employee-union-contract

Full Text:

Town Employees Balk At Contract Offer

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Members of the town's employee union have turned down a contract offer by the

town of Newtown.

During the negotiations, the town had presented the 32-member union with a 2.5

percent raise, but the union unanimously rejected that offer last week.

Members say it is time they saw a more significant increase in pay.

"The people in the union are the ones that keep the town moving," a union

member said.

As members point out, town department heads received raises, on average, of

more than three percent.

Under normal circumstances, the town employees would have negotiated contracts

this past summer. However, the extended negotiations have forced the employees

to continue working under last year's contract.

Union president Sharon Bowman declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.

Earlier this week, the town had not yet received word of the union's vote.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said he was surprised after hearing the news,

unofficially.

"This is news to me. I thought they were accepting it," he said Monday.

The town's negotiations team is being 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. She was unavailable for comment this

week.

George Gould, union representative at the bargaining table, declined to

comment on the negotiations, saying the two parties have established ground

rules that prevent any discussions with the press.

"I'd like to make a statement regarding this, but I can't," he said Wednesday.