Town of Vernon and Water Pollution Control Supervisors Union Ratify Labor Contract
(VERNON, Connecticut) – The Vernon Town Council on Tuesday evening unanimously approved a four-year contract with the union that represents the supervisors in the town’s Water Pollution Control Facility.
The agreement was reached after only one meeting between town officials and the local union’s leader and without the assistance of attorneys, which saved taxpayers and union members a significant amount of money.
The union includes the wastewater collection foreman and the plant foreman. They are members of Local 818 of Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
“It is gratifying when employees and management can engage in meaningful negotiations and reach an agreement,” Mayor Dan Champagne said. “The Water Pollution Control Facility is an important community and regional resource and these employees ensure it operates efficiently and protects our environment.”
Under the terms of the contract, employees are receiving a 2.95 percent general wage increase in each year of the four-year contract. Also, benefit leave will be measured in hours rather than days, employee contributions to health insurance will increase 1 percent each year starting in the second year of the contract, and employees will receive enhanced vision coverage at no additional cost. Also, the town will increase its match to the defined contribution retirement plan to 6 percent from 4 percent for employees who contribute at least 7.5 percent of their pay to the plan.
The negotiations were intended to aid in employee recruitment and retention and to encourage employees to save for retirement.
“This contract acknowledges the outstanding work and contributions made by the employees who are members of this bargaining unit, while also meeting our fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers,” Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said, adding that negotiations were “collaborative, efficient and collegial.”
As a result, town administration was able to achieve a fourth contract with a local bargaining unit without the use of attorneys or the need for protracted negotiations, mediation or arbitration.
“Both parties came to the negotiation table with realistic expectations and an open and honest approach to negotiating,” Purcaro said.
The agreement was reached after just one session by Union President Dj Lupacchino and Purcaro.
“Mike and I were very straight forward with each other in terms of what our expectations were and what we hoped to accomplish,” Lupacchino said. “The process was very easy and in just one session we were able to reach a contract that is reasonable for the members of our bargaining unit and for taxpayers and the town.”