Vernon Reaches Agreement with Two Municipal Employee Unions
The Vernon Town Council unanimously approved three-year agreements with AFSCME Locals 818 and 1471, which represent staff in the Social Services, Information Technology, Finance, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Water Pollution Control, and Land Use departments.
Town and Union leaders were able to negotiate both agreements without the use of attorneys, saving Vernon taxpayers and union members a significant amount of money in legal fees.
“These agreements acknowledge the valuable service Town employees provide to our community,” Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said. “Mutual respect leads to a negotiations process and outcome that benefits everyone.”
The agreements with Locals 818 and 1471 were signed today and follow the Council’s recent approval of a three-year contract with the Directors’ Independent Union. The Directors’ contract was also negotiated in a fair and equitable manner without the use of attorneys, saving a significant amount of time and resources for all parties involved.
Town Administrator Michael Purcaro and Assistant Town Administrator Dawn Maselek described the negotiations as amicable, productive and collaborative.
“Everyone came to the negotiations table with realistic and reasonable expectations as well as a shared commitment to bargain in good faith,” Purcaro said. “As a result, we were able to offer our valued employees a competitive wage and benefit package that also meets our fiduciary responsibility to our taxpayers.”
Highlights of the contracts include:
2.25% general wage increase.
Market adjustments to pay scales where applicable.
Enhancement of paid time off.
A one-time $500.00 signing bonus.
Excellent health benefits.
An additional 2% employer match to the defined contribution retirement plan for employees who contribute at least 7.5% of their pay to the plan.
John Burney, President of Local 1471 (the Town’s largest municipal employee union) and a Traffic Controls Maintainer in Vernon’s Public Works Department said the negotiations were respectful. “I strongly advocated for our members and by working together we reached a fair agreement,” Burney said. “I look forward to a similar negotiation process in the future.”
Jeremy Whetzel, President of the Professionals’ Union (Local 818) and a Systems Analyst in Vernon’s Information Technology Department, described the contract as “a win-win for both the town and our union” and “this agreement will allow us to continue to offer exceptional customer service to the taxpayers of Vernon.”
Whetzel said the negotiation process was the best he has experienced in three terms as union president.
“There was an open dialogue and constructive conversation,” Whetzel said. “Both sides have responsibilities to the constituents they represent. We were both taking those responsibilities into consideration when coming to an agreement.”
Whetzel said he also appreciated the focus on retention of Town employees in the new contract. “That’s something both sides really wanted to achieve in this agreement,” he said. “We have a lot of great talent that we want to keep here. This contract will help us do that.”