Town of Vernon and Police Department Civilian Employees Union Ratify Labor Contract
(VERNON, Connecticut) – The Vernon Town Council on Tuesday evening unanimously approved a three-year contract with the Vernon Police Department’s civilian employees.
The agreement was reached after only two meetings between town officials and local union leaders, without the assistance of attorneys, saving taxpayers and union members a significant amount of time and money.
Civilian employees in the police department include police telecommunicators (also known as dispatchers), records technicians and their supervisor, and an evidence technician. They are members of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, U.E. 222, Connecticut Independent Labor Union (CILU) Local No. 47.
“I am pleased with the cooperative communication, process and outcome,” Mayor Dan Champagne said. “The members of this bargaining unit provide critically important public safety services to our community.”
Under the terms of the contract, employees are receiving market adjustments to their pay with dispatchers receiving a 2.25 percent general wage increase in the third year. Also, benefit leave will be measured in hours rather than days, employee contributions to health insurance will increase 1 percent in the contract’s final year, employees will receive enhanced vision insurance coverage at no additional cost, and the Town will increase its match to the defined contribution retirement plan to 6 percent from 4 percent for those 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 employees in this bargaining unit while meeting our fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers,” Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said, adding the negotiation process was “exceptionally collaborative, efficient and collegial.”
As a result, town administration was able to achieve a third contract with a local bargaining unit without the use of attorneys.
“Both parties came to the table with realistic expectations and an open and honest approach to negotiating,” Purcaro said.
The contract was negotiated over two sessions by union President Sean O’Sullivan, who works as a dispatcher, Christine Lee, the Records Division supervisor, Assistant Town Administrator and Human Resources Director Dawn Maselek and Purcaro.
“I appreciate the town’s willingness to work collaboratively with the union,” O’Sullivan said. “We are proud of the work our members do every day and feel this contract recognizes that.”
“These employees provide essential services to the police department including 911 dispatching, records management and reporting, and evidence tracking,” Police Chief John Kelley said.