Reaction to a judicial ruling that favors cafeteria workers

Reactions to this story about a judicial ruling that went against the Board of Education yesterday:
Mike Petosa, president of the Greater Bristol Labor Council: "It's time for the Board of Education to stop this madness and to put their people back to work the way it used to be. "... Go back to the status quo.Let them do the job they were initially hired to do." He said the judge's decision shows once again "the dedication and hard work" the union has demonstrated in trying protect 53 cafeteria workers whose jobs would be lost if the school cafeterias are privatized. He said the unions in Bristol "will always fight" to protect the rights of working people that are under assault across the country from Republicans "who want to bust the unions and knock down the middle class." "We're going to fight it in this city. This city is about taking of its people."
Mary Fortier, Democratic city councilor:

"I am certainly happy with Judge Schuman's ruling but it is a shame that the cafeteria workers have to continue to be ping pong balls in this mess."

Calvin Brown, Democratic city councilor:

School board members "Fitzgerald, Amara, Dolan, Morgan, and Dube have continued to morbidly abuse these 53 cafeteria workers for well over a year now. The Commissioners lost the Labor Ruling, now they've lost their misguided request for a stay on that ruling, and they'll lose again if they continue to fight this vindictive legal battle in the courts. It's time for the Board of Education to admit they illegally bargained in bad faith and stop wasting taxpayer time and money."

Karen Vibert, Democratic Board of Education member:

"On the record, all responses to media are supposed to go through the BOE chair; however, the BOE chair, contrary to Robert's Rules, did not allow me to speak at the last meeting, basically cutting me off and ending the meeting because I disagreed with him, so I will speak here.

"I have been a supporter of the cafeteria workers because last year the BOE negotiating committee and the Union reached a tentative agreement and the Union gave back more at the table in terms of wages and benefits than I ever imagined they would.  It was more than fair.  It was unfortunate that the full Board then voted against the agreement and the issue then went into the costly world of egos and legal battles.  These legal battles may take months, if not years, before final decisions are rendered.  The Republican majority voting to sign a contract with the Whitson company put the Board into more legal and financial jeopardy.  To quote the judge's order, 'The Plaintiff; -- the Board of Education -- 'must accept the consequences of its own choice.'"

Chris Wilson, Democratic Board of Education member and former chairman:

"First of all please be aware my response is my own and not that of the Bristol BOE, However the minority position has not been articulated because it has been in opposition to the majority.

"I believe the Tentative agreement negotiated between  Bargaining unit 2267 and the Bristol BOE was fair. Both sides gave concessions to reach a settlement.

"Unfortunately, the Republican Majority (none of which had been involved in negotiations as a BOE member) decided not to support the agreement.  The arbitration ruling allowed that the BOE could privatize. But one still is compelled to negotiate in 'good faith.' The Labor Relations Board determined that had not happened and their remedy was to put in place the Tentative Agreement.

"At this point,  the majority, has decided to appeal and requested a stay of the Labor Relations ruling. Now that stay request has been dissolved.

"It is clear the board acted prematurely in executing a contract with Whitson’s prior to all of the legal remedies being exhausted. This case is now in the hands of the courts to determine if MR. Amara did not negotiate in 'Good Faith.'

"Since , that ruling,  and any appeal thereof could go either way, I believe it is time to put this matter to rest and not spend any more money on this matter.  From the beginning, this case has been  framed by the majority as saving considerable amounts of money.  It is clear any savings will be eaten up in legal fees.

"I see no reason to spend bad money after good. The cafeteria workers have been put through the mill,  it is time for it to stop. If,  through the tentative agreement the shortfall cannot be reduced then the administration will need to reengineer how it delivers food service. Labor can and should be a part of that discussion.

"It is time for all parties to begin working together instead of in opposition to each other. Enough is enough!"

Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, Democratic city councilor:

"I believe the cost savings that implementing the Tentative Agreement would have achieved last winter would have far outweighed whatever alleged savings and beyond  that is now being spent by the Republican leadership on legal fees to justify their shaky position. The fact that, after yet another setback, they are still trying to insist they are right, is sad and is a distraction from what they should be doing as elected leaders. Three wrongs don't make a right."

Jill Fitzgerald, Republican Board of Education member:

"No comments on the ruling. Need to hear from legal counsel."

Copyright 2014 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Brown is 'saddened and disturbed' by privatization move

Statement released by city Councilor Calvin Brown about the Board of Education's decision last night to privatize school cafeterias:

I'm saddened and disturbed by the decision made by the Republicans on the Board of Education last night to privatize our school cafeteria workers. It shows a lack of respect for people's jobs and livelihood; neglect for our students and, really, our community at large; it shows an overall ineptitude for leadership to allow a private corporation to come into our schools and interact with our children on a regular basis.

Whitson's - the out-of-state company the BOE has chosen to contract with - has several law suits pending against them. They have not committed to hiring the current cafeteria workers who will be displaced. We still do not know if the company performs background checks on the employees they do hire - and therefore we will not know who is feeding lunch to our students. Again, I am saddened and disturbed by this.

The Republicans on the BOE have shown they do not understand what it really takes to care for our kids. If they did, they would see these grave concerns as the threat to community and safety that they really are. Instead, the Republicans on the Board of Education see only dollar signs.

Alas, I do believe that their inability to bargain in good faith, their inability to think critically, and their inability to lead responsibly will come back to haunt them: in court, at future meetings, and come the next election cycle.

I only pray that in the meantime our kids don't have to pay the price for the Board of Education's ineptitude.

Copyright 2014 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Ward speaks to union rally at City Hall

Here is Mayor Art Ward speaking to a union rally outside City Hall before this week's City Council meeting:

And here is Mayra Sampson, the union leader for City Hall's workers, speaking at the same union rally (sorry about the wind):
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City councilors explain their police pact votes

During last night's City Council meeting, the GOP majority managed to shoot down a proposed contract with the police union that would have granted officers an 8.3-percent raise over a four-year period beginning last July. The four opponents -- Ken Cockayne, Henri Martin, Derek Czenczelewski and David Mills -- said the city couldn't afford to be so generous. One Republican, Eric Carlson, joined the two Democrats in favor of the pact. Its failure means the issue will head to arbitration -- which Mayor Art Ward said will cost more than $10,000 just to deal with. It is also likely, officials said, the city will wind up being forced to give workers a more generous package than the one the council rejected. In any case, here are videos from last night's council session in which Mills, Democrat Kevin Fuller, Carlson and Cockayne explain their votes on the issue:


Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Union head bashes GOP privatization bid

Mayra Sampson, who heads the union local representing union workers at City Hall, spoke during a windy outdoor rally at City Hall before Tuesday's City Council meeting:


Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Mayor Ward addresses union rally Tuesday

Mayor Art Ward spoke to about 200 city union members and supporters during a rally before Tuesday's City Council meeting. Here's what he had to say:

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Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Police union votes down proposed contract

The city's police union recently voted down a proposed contract with the city by a little less than a 2-to-1 margin. A majority of the roughly 100 officers voting on the pact were apparently concerned with contract changes rather than the pay hike proposed by the city.
Details of the deal remain uncertain, but the fact that police voted it down is both unusual and a sign that Mayor Art Ward may be pushing for reforms that might well impact other municipal unions.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Union deal OK'd be a split City Council

Without shouting or even much posturing, city councilors Wednesday approved a new union contract for many City Hall workers that increases their pay slightly but opens the door to major cost-cutting down the road.
Only the two Republican councilors, Ken Cockayne and David Mills, voted against the pact with Local 233 of Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which generally includes most of City Hall’s “inside” workers.
They said with the economy in the dumps, state and federal aid likely to sink and more financial troubles ahead, the city should have taken a harder line. Click here for the full story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

McCauley explains his position on proposed union pact

Statement read by city Councilor Kevin McCauley at tonight's City Council session about the proposed deal with Local 233:
As many know, I took considerable heat on my position last week to postpone the vote on this Tentative Agreement for one week.  After having a week to review the documents that contain some major changes in the contract, I am more than happy to state that I believe we made the right decision.
Last week, we were given the Comparison Document two days before the special meeting.  Upon reviewing it, I knew, in my experience as both a union member and a City Council member, that this document would require more than 48 hours of consideration and analysis before I felt comfortable to render a decision on the ratification of it.
The two-page Comparison Document is extremely complex. It includes highly technical and specialized legal and tax language, the implications of which would take time to fully consider.
This is a very difficult contract and tough to comprehend, both from a management standpoint and I am sure from a member’s standpoint.  I think that Local 233's membership, along with the skillful negotiating of their leadership, should be commended for the fact that they are willing to take a reduction in pay, give back vacation days when it comes to doing their retirement calculation, not demand any code increases, nor take any step increases. But most of all, the major change with regard to the pension policy in agreeing to pay for a portion of their own post-employment healthcare benefits deserves our gratitude.
In fact, this pension policy change gives the City of Bristol the precedent and ability to negotiate with all other City unions and secure the same concessions. Essentially, Local 233 has now provided the City with the key to open the door to fully implementing a GASB 45 plan.
The Tentative Agreement also establishes a City pension “prerogative” that is not subject to grievance or arbitration procedure, and may set precedents that will give the City an upper hand in securing similar concessions in future negotiations with other City unions.
I want to thank the membership of 233 and their leadership for their efforts during the negotiations, and the efforts by the City negotiating team.  By working together, the City and 233 clearly did a good job in saving taxpayer dollars in the future by giving unprecedented concessions and not demanding anything in return from the City.
The Tentative Agreement was approved by Local 233 membership and represents the will of the majority of Local 233’s members, and I will vote to ratify it because of their vote, and because of the benefits it provides to the City. 
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Union pact likely to be approved Wednesday

The proposed union contract at the center of a spat that erupted last week between Mayor Art Ward and the City Council is likely to win approval Wednesday.
In a showdown with the mayor last week, the Democrat-controlled council postponed consideration of the pact in order to have more time to study its details and to give first-term Republican David Mills a chance to participate.
Ward, who is also a Democrat, opposed the delay, calling the agreement a good one for the city and its taxpayers.
It appears that a majority of the council is ready to support the tentative deal with Local 233 of Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which generally includes most of City Hall’s “inside” workers.  Click here for the story.
Contract changes health care provisions
A proposed union contract between the city and its biggest union would require for the first time that employees funnel money into a fund to pay for post-retirement health care.
The proposed deal between the city and Local 233 of Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees also includes a provision aimed at lowering the long-term cost of providing health care to retirees.  Click here for the story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Copy of the city's tentative labor agreement with Local 233

To read a copy of the tentative deal for yourself, here is a PDF of it. Have fun.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Paying for post-retirement health care mentioned in new contract proposal

I was going to plow into this Tuesday but someone commented about it in an oblique way so I think it's best to get the facts out.

The proposed deal between the city and Local 233 of Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees includes a couple of provisions that clearly aim to reduce the city's cost for post-retirement health benefits.

Most obviously, it would give new hires only five years of benefits rather than the 10 currently offered to city retirees. Right off the bat that saves a lot of money... eventually.

The other thing the contract provides is that union members will pay 6 of their salary, pre-tax, for pensions and retiree health benefits.

I'm not sure, but I think they only pay 5 percent now.

Here's the key section, though: "Effective upon the city's creation of a retiree health account in the pension trust as soon as is practical, one and one-half percent (1.5 percent) of the employee's contribution shall be applied to such retiree health account."

That would only happen, though, if the pensions are fully funded and the city itself continues to have to pay nothing into the pension funds.

That means for the first time that employees will be paying into a health benefits trust -- but they're paying at least some money that would, under the current contract, flow into the pension fund.

The wording is a little awkward, however.

Strictly speaking, paying 1.5 percent of the employee's contribution -- as opposed to 1.5 percent of the employee's salary -- would mean that all that would flow into the health fund is a tiny amount of money, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of salary. I assume everyone understands what's really intended so maybe that doesn't matter.

Anyway, that's the relevant section. Make of it what you will.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Union intimidation or just guys who don't like each other?

City Councilor Ken Cockayne said Friday that Ward allowed an atmosphere of intimidation at the special council meeting last night.
He said that union leaders put a poster on the wall of the council chambers headlined something akin to “For or Against Labor Wages” and then listing the four Democratic councilors, with boxes beside them marked YES or NO.
When city Councilor Kevin McCauley spoke of the need to delay a decision on a proposed contract, someone got up and marked a big X through the NO box next to McCauley’s name, Cockayne said.
When city Councilor Kate Matthews indicated her support for McCauley’s position, an X was marked in the NO box beside her name, too, according to Cockayne.
As the meeting proceeded, getting ever more heated, union officials began screaming at McCauley, Cockayne said. They yelled “you’re all done” and “you’re through,” said Cockayne and a number of others.
“It got really out of control,” Cockayne said.
Cockayne said Ward “would never have let any other group or person do what was being done last night. Ward would have thrown them out or called the police.”
“Instead, he sat there doing nothing,” Cockayne said.
“It was thug mentality and union intimidation at its finest,” Cockayne said. “We have a lot of great people working at the city. It’s a shame the union leadership is making them look bad.”
The head of Local 233 of Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said the confrontation between the mayor and McCauley should never happened at the meeting.
“They stuck us in the middle. They stuck our contract in the middle,” said Mayra Sampson, the union chief and a former city Democratic Party chair who has worked on Ward’s campaigns.
“They need to settle their respect issues outside” and not in public , she said.
Sampson said that some union people were angry last night.
“When you mess with peoples’ livelihoods, they tend to get upset,” she said.
Cockayne said that he can’t help wondering if Ward got so angry because he had negotiated the deal with Sampson, his last campaign treasurer.
“If this isn’t a conflict of interest, I don’t know what it,” Cockayne said.
But Sampson said the contract terms show that her union “considered the economic times and the city’s financial status.”
She said Local 233 gave up a 3 percent pay hike last year to help out the city – money she doubts the union will ever see again – and is getting just 3.3 percent more over two years now, along with paying more for health care and other measures that will save the city money.
Sampson said the bottom line for the union is that “we’re thankful we have jobs” in these hard times so even though her members are the lowest paid city workers, they didn’t push for more.
She said the proposed deal is “more than fair” for taxpayers and a great deal for the city.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

What actually happened at last night's City Council session

Thanks to the city clerk’s office’s willingness to scramble to let me hear the recording of last night’s meeting, I can tell everyone what happened more clearly now.
At the start of the session, city Councilor Kevin McCauley said he would ask for a postponement of the vote on the proposed contract for the union representing the city’s “inside workers.”
“This is about courtesy,” McCauley said
He said the mayor provided information about the proposed deal only two days before the special meeting even though he’d signed the tentative agreement on August 2.
Some councilors, McCauley said, “felt strongly they just didn’t have enough time” to go over the material before Thursday night’s session.
McCauley said he told the mayor on Wednesday that councilors wanted more time.
He also said that the special meeting was slated for a time when two councilors, David Mills and Cliff Block, were out of town. Block, in the end, returned from Vermont for the meeting but Mills could not make it.
McCauley said Mills specifically asked for a chance to be heard before the vote. He said he wanted to give Mills that opportunity and to provide the entire council “the time to read through this information” before making a decision.
“I am speaking for my colleagues,” McCauley said.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said he agreed with McCauley. He said any other night this week or next would have been fine with everyone.
“I echo those sentiments,” added city Councilor Kate Matthews.
At that point, Mayor Art Ward said he asked the council in an email “a week ago” whether to hold the meeting on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. Everyone said Thursday except for Mills, the mayor said.
“And me,” Block interjected.
Ward said he told Mills he would be happy to read a statement to the council if Mills wanted to write something up before he left.
Until 4:30 Wednesday, the mayor said, he thought things were fine.
Then McCauley came to the mayor’s office to speak to him.
According to Ward, the senior councilor told him, “I’m not here to piss you off. I’m just the messenger.”
He said that McCauley told him the council had reached a consensus to delay action on the proposed contract.
The mayor said he wondered “how did they get a consensus?” He said McCauley needs to explain how that could happen in the absence of a meeting.
Ward said there was no reason to delay because a decision was easy to make.
“It’s not rocket science,” the mayor said. He said that Local 233 is “trying to preserve jobs and work for the betterment of the city” by accepting a deal that is generous for taxpayers.
At that point, Cockayne leaped in.
Having tracked down Ward’s email on his Blackberry, he read the note the mayor originally sent to the council, which did not offer them a choice of days. It simply said the session would be held Thursday, Sept. 2.
Mills wrote back within hours to say he couldn’t make it that day, Cockayne said.
This past Monday, Cockayne said, he asked the mayor directly to make it possible for Mills to attend.
“Why can’t he have the opportunity to sit here like the rest of us?” Cockayne said.
McCauley told Ward that “I gave you the courtesy of walking into your office” to tell you what the council wanted rather than simply springing it on the mayor.
He said the two disagreed during their meeting and he walked out. The mayor argued immediately that in fact he had walked out on McCauley.
McCauley disputed it, then said, “I’m very disappointed in your leadership.”
He said he came to the mayor out of courtesy and respect.
“Next time you do that, it will be a first,” Ward fired back.
I need to interject here that, according to many people who attended, the council chambers were packed with union members and officials, many of them growing angry as the council argued.
McCauley referred to it during the meeting as “this dog and pony show that you created.”
Ward said he would file a Freedom of Information Act complaint against McCauley and the council for illegal collusion to reach a decision outside a public meeting.
“When I file the FOI complaint, we’ll deal with it,” Ward said.
“That’s your prerogative,” McCauley answered.
The council then voted to postponed the decision until next Wednesday.
On the tape, you can hear some people shouting but their words are unclear.
However, Cockayne and several others said that union leaders were yelling at McCauley such things as “you’re through” and “you’re all done.”
The mayor ignored it as he plowed into the next agenda item.
But Cockayne said there ought to be order in the room before proceeding and Ward called for quiet.
It’s not clear exactly what happened from the tape, but apparently McCauley got up to go into executive session on an unrelated issue before the council had officially adjourned from its public session.
Ward took note.
“Kevin, get back to your seat. We’re still in session,” Ward thundered.
And that was that.
After the meeting, however, McCauley and some union officials, including Mike Petosa, were going to toe to toe over the whole thing. A number of people told me they thought punches were going to fly because it got so heated.
But that didn’t happen.
Still, by all accounts, it was a brutal, ugly atmosphere.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Local 233 contract terms outlined

In the tentative contract between the city and Local 233 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ Council 4, which Mayor Art Ward and union representatives signed on August 2, the union appears to have made significant concessions.
In terms of wages, union members agreed to a 1.5 wage hike backdated to July 1 and to a 1.8 percent increase next July.
That comes after accepting a pay freeze a year ago.
In addition, the union agreed that anyone hired after the contract takes effect will receive only 5 years of post-employment health care for themselves and a spouse instead of the 10 years that existing employees will get.
They'll also be able to accumulate only 175 sick days before retirement instead of the 200 now allowed. The city shells out for unused time at the end of someone's employment -- payments that swell pension checks.
In addition, union members will see a hike in the percentage of their health care premium that they must cover. Instead of paying 5 percent, as it is now, they’ll pay 6 percent this year and 7.5 percent next year.
That’s still much less than firefighters, however, who are now paying 9.75 percent following an arbitration ruling that generally favored the city.
Union members assigned to work second and third shifts will get less money after the contract takes effect. Instead of receiving a 12 percent shift differential payment, they’ll get 6 percent more for working early or late shifts.
If I get a chance later, I’ll scan the paperwork so that all of the terms are available.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Ward vs City Council - Campaign 2011 is underway....

Mayor Art Ward is not very happy.

I caught up with him as City Hall opened this morning and found him still seething a bit over last night’s strange City Council session.

From the mayor’s perspective, members of the council have been “blindsiding and undermining” him instead of working with him to deliver the best possible government for the people of Bristol.

He said he was concerned that city Councilor Kevin McCauley came to him the day before the council meeting to tell him that he was “a messenger” for the council and that a consensus existed among councilors to put off a decision on the proposed contract for Local 233 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Ward said he’s not sure how McCauley knew that a consensus existed. He said he’s thinking of submitting a Freedom of Information request to obtain any emails that passed among the council on the issue.

Given that a consensus actually existed at the meeting to oppose Ward, the mayor said it was “pretty obvious it was pre-arranged.”

Ward said he doesn’t understand why councilors made such a fuss that one member of the council, David Mills, could not make the meeting.

He said he told Mills he would be happy to read the councilor’s comments into the record in either executive session or in public.

Ward said the city has to act soon because the contract is “time-sensitive.”

If the city fails to act on it by Wednesday, Sept. 8, he said, it automatically takes effect.

The contract, whose terms are pretty tough on the union, were “bargained in good faith,” Ward said, and it’s wrong “to play politics” with City Hall’s workers.

“I consider this to be a fantastic contract for the city,” Ward said. He said the negotiators for the union “stepped up to the plate” and did what was best for the community.

“To go through these unnecessary political hoops is not, I think, justified,” Ward said.

The mayor said he is “really concerned about the approach” taken by councilors, particularly McCauley, who has largely shunned Ward since a September 2007 primary in which Ward defeated Ellen Zoppo to capture the Democratic Party’s mayoral backing.

Ward said McCauley has been in his office only four times since he took office in 2007.

He said McCauley, the most senior councilor, never tells him what’s going on. “I mostly learn after the fact or at the time of” what McCaulely is up to, Ward said.

Though Ward placed McCauley in charge of some key city committees, it’s not clear that the veteran councilor’s positions are secure anymore.

“You can only extend your hand so long,” Ward said.

He added that some councilors who sided with Zoppo “have gotten over it” and talk with him regularly.

City Councilor Cliff Block said recently he figures it’s better to work with Ward than to fight with him because it’s the only way he can get things done.

Ward said he’ll clear whatever hurdles the council erects and do what’s necessary to guide the city through tough economic times.

Ward also handed me a copy of a four-page outline of all the changes made to the Local 233 contract in the draft deal. I’ll post them soon.


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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Vote on union pact postponed

After a wild and crazy session, city councilors tonight agreed to postpone a vote on the proposed contract for Local 233 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers.
Councilors said they didn't want to take a vote on the proposal until Republican David Mills could be there, too.
In the end, the entire council except for the missing Mills voted to put off the vote until next Wednesday. Mayor Art Ward opposed the delay.
I couldn't make the meeting -- because I had to cover a story for The Herald this morning -- but I hear it was pretty loony, with much shouting and anger.
Another special council session on the pact will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
I understand Ward mentioned during the meeting that he really didn't want the terms of the deal posted on this blog so I'll endeavor to make sure they are soon.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Union contract on special council meeting agenda

City councilors will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday to consider whether to back a contract negotiated between Mayor Art Ward and Local 233 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers.


Local 233 represents most of the workers at City Hall.

The terms of the deal remain a secret, but Ward said the union has already signed the pact. He said the city has to act before its next regular council meeting in order to meet mandatory time requirements.

At least one councilor, Republican David Mills, said he can’t make the meeting because he had already planned to be out of town.

In addition to the union contract, councilors also plan to appoint a fair housing officer and perhaps deal with a property tax dispute over watershed land in Harwinton.

The special meeting will take place in the council chambers on the first floor at City Hall.


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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

School panels say no to unions

Leaving scores of union workers who packed the Board of Education Tuesday frustrated and angry, both of the city panels overseeing construction of two proposed schools gunned down a request to mandate the use of union workers on the project.

Though the construction managers on both the Forestville and West Bristol schools each said the enacting a project labor agreement would add little or no cost to the $110 million project to add classrooms for 1,800 students, members of the panels said they didn’t want to shut the door on bids from non-union construction firms.

Board of Finance member John Smith, who serves on both school building committees, said he did not believe officials should cut a deal with unions that would ice out companies and workers who also pay taxes and have a stake in the community.  CLICK HERE FOR STORY.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Firefighters lose big on contract arbitration

City firefighters got burned in a long-awaited arbitration decision on their pending union contract.

Over a four year period stretching back to July 2007, firefighters will get raises totaling 6.5 percent – half of what they were looking for.

They will also see their cost-sharing for health care rise from 5 percent of the tab to 9.75 percent in the final year, by far the highest of any city workers. The police union, the next highest, is due to pay 8.25 percent in the same fiscal year, which begins July 1.

In addition, new retirees in the fire department will also have to pay the same percentage of their health care as active duty firefighters.

Mayor Art Ward said the arbitrators clearly “recognized the economic crisis that municipalities are faced with at the present time” and took it into account in awarding contract terms.

City Comptroller Glenn Klocko said the city had socked away about $600,000 to pay off the firefighters’ back pay in the worst case scenario. Because the city won most items, about half the money will likely be returned to the rainy day fund.

Firefighters failed in their bid to change their work schedule so they would work 24 hours in a row and then get three straight days off.
The city has 25 days to reject the decision, but Ward has no plans to ask the City Council to consider it.

The city spent at least $130,000 on lawyers to handle the case.

Here is a summary of the decision prepared by Diane Ferguson, the city's personnel director.

I'll have more on this Wednesday.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com