Committee Members:
Present: Douglas Hanlon, Acting Chair, Gail Infantino, Pamela Fowler, Dennis Flanigan, Frank Twohill
Absent: David Baker, Kevin O’Donnell
Present from the Town of Branford contract negotiation team: James Finch, finance director; Joyce Forte, human resources director; negotiating attorney William Ryan
Also present: Anthony DaRos, 1st Selectman; John Opie, 3rd Selectman
To review, consider, and if appropriate:
1. Approve an “Agreement By and Between the Town of Branford and the United Public Services Employees Union Local #007, July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2012 (Public Works).
James Finch, finance director, Joyce Forte, human resources director and attorney Bill Ryan spoke on behalf of the town of Branford regarding contract negotiations with Public Services Employees Union Local #007. The tentative public works contract, which had recently been ratified by the union members, was now before the RTM for approval. The main bargaining points discussed by the negotiating team were as follows:
1) Comparison of wage increases in contract with those of other municipalities and the private sector. Mr. Finch distributed several articles and cited other indicating that the tentative Public Works contract (with wage increases of 3.5/3.25/3.25/3,25/3.5% per year) contained wage increases which were in line with recently enacted contracts in other municipalities and the private sector. North Haven was cited as a town of similar size and demographic which recently negotiated 4% increases with their police services unit. Mr. Finch also explained that the only alternative to passing the proposed contract was binding arbitration with the union, which he felt would not improve the town’s financial position. Attorney Ryan concurred and elaborated that his experience with binding arbitration of such contracts was
that this alternative was expensive and in this case would not significantly lower the town’s expenditures, particularly in light of savings possible through other concessions included in the contract (health care, etc).
2) Revised health benefit program to control health care costs for the town. Mr Finch and Mrs Forte pointed to a newly bargained health insurance plan, “Century Preferred Comprehensive Benefits” which features increased co-pays for unit employees and also a new HSA. Both would provide significant premium savings for the town. Savings estimates were $13K in year one and cost avoidance of 16%-25.9% in Y2-5.
3) Changes in subcontracting bargaining unit work. Newly revised agreement would allow town to subcontract Public Works Dept services, materials and work at discretion of town. However, subcontracting must not result in the layoff of an employee who presently performs such work. All three town representatives indicated that this would help eliminate costly union grievances and could potentially impact overtime hours.
4) Length of contract. Mr Finch indicated that the town was interested in locking in these contractual agreements for 5 years to avoid additional negotiations and to allow the town to better estimate future expenditures with unknowns such as inflation a possibility.
Rep. Flanigan made motion to approve, Rep. Infantino seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Dated this 8th day of December, 2008
Respectfully submitted,
Douglas Hanlon
Acting Chair, Public Services Committee
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