News

Mayor wants City Council to reconsider union deal

By Katie Farrell
Staff writer
Published: August 29, 2008

NEWBURYPORT — The mayor will reach out the City Council this week in hopes of a meeting to discuss terms of a proposed contract with the city's second-largest union in an effort to get them to reconsider the deal before heading back to the bargaining table.

On Aug. 11, the council narrowly rejected funding a request that would have covered the terms of a new agreement between the city and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ¬­— the union that includes Department of Public Works, library and City Hall employees.

Mayor John Moak said this week he has yet to start negotiations with the AFSCME union and will not do so until has had a chance to go before the council to explain and discuss the funding.

The mayor will be sending a letter to the City Council asking to meet with them as a committee of the whole. The public meeting may take place before or after the next council meeting on Sept. 8.

Council President James Shanley said he will check available times with councilors and the mayor to determine a night that works.

Shanley was absent from the Aug. 11 meeting but declined to talk about his view on the contract.

"I'm not willing to comment on that," Shanley said.

In rejecting the deal, the council questioned a proposed salary increase, as well as the terms of a clothing allowance for the union members, particularly in light of a citywide vote on a temporary tax hike to pay off millions of dollars in city debt in the fall.

Under the terms of the agreement, the employees' base wages would have increased by 2 percent. The deal also included a $600 per year "clothing allowance" for full-time employees and a $300 to $400 clothing allowance per year for part-time employees, depending on the number of hours worked. Public works employees would get an additional $200 boot allowance per year.

Changes to the sick leave/vacation time would mean less sick leave credit with more vacation time — the maximum reaching six weeks vacation for employees who have worked for the city for 15 years or more.

At-large Councilor Donna Holaday, who voted in support of the funding, said a chance for an in-depth conversation between the mayor and council might allow the two parties to come to an understanding.

"These are the lowest paid people in our city," Holaday said. "I just don't see 2 percent out of the realm ... for them, given how low their annual salaries are."

Holaday said she hopes the mayor and councilors can come to an agreement on the proposed clothing allowance.

"The clothing allowance was a risk on the part of the mayor, but I certainly understand his rationale," she said. But I also understand the position of my fellow councilors (in terms of setting a precedent for all city employees)."

At-large Councilor Tom Jones, who criticized the contract and voiced his opposition to funding it, said the council's role is to represent the taxpayer.

"I have to screen every argument through the lens of 'is this sustainable for the taxpayer?'" Jones said. "You can't ask people to reach into their pockets as taxpayers, and say, 'We can't afford to pay our debt,' and turn around and give out (this agreement). It can't be both things. I can't get past that."

Looking at the total amount of leave given to employees under the contract, Jones said an employee who has been working for the city for 15 years would get eight weeks' pay for days they are not working, between vacation and sick time.

"I don't know too many businesses that find that a sustainable way of doing business," he said.

Voting to approve a transfer to fund the contract on Aug. 11 were Councilors Ed Cameron, Greg Earls, Holaday and Larry McCavitt; voting against it were Councilors Brian Derrivan, Jones, Steve Hutcheson, Kathleen O'Connor-Ives and Tom O'Brien. Councilors Barry Connell and Shanley were absent.