Town, public works union agree to deal

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PROSPECT — The town and the union that represents public works employees have agreed on a short-term contract.

On Dec. 20, the Town Council approved the contract with Local 130-379 of Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. The contract, which covers eight public works employees, is retroactive from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017.

Mayor Robert Chatfield said the contract only goes through June because the town and union are already planning on renegotiating a new one. Negotiations are expected to begin in February, he said.

The contract gives employees a 3 percent salary increase, bringing them up to $26.98 an hour. All eight employees are paid the same hourly rate, Chatfield said.

The increase is in line with what employees in other town unions received in their contracts, Chatfield said.

The contract increases the contribution employees make to their health care from 13.5 percent to 14 percent.

The contract also changes how employees can use their floating birthday holiday.

Previously employees could use their birthday as a floating holiday throughout the year. Under the contract, it has to be taken in the same month as their birthday.

James O’Donnell, president of the union, couldn’t be reached for comment.