The Manchester Water Works board approved a tentative agreement (TA) with Local 8938 at its May 22 meeting that moves union employees onto the city’s Evergreen compensation scale and adjusts several pay and benefit provisions.

Under the TA summarized at the meeting, represented employees will receive a minimum 3% increase as of June 30, 2025 and be placed into corresponding Evergreen grades and steps; some employees will receive increases above 3% because of grade reassignments. The agreement also establishes retention incentives tied to years of service (a 3% retention increase at 15 years and again at 20 years), adjusts standby pay (raising the base standby to $45 per day and higher amounts for emergency technicians), restores and reframes longevity as a retention incentive, and aligns vacation accrual with the non‑affiliated city policy (starting new hires at three weeks, increasing to four and five at later service milestones).

Phil (Director) reviewed the TA’s financial impact and said the first-year net additional salaries and benefits cost for affiliates is roughly in the low‑to‑mid hundreds of thousands of dollars after accounting for items the city already budgeted; the two‑year cost horizon was presented to the board. The TA also includes changes to health plan options and a modest increase in boot/clothing allowances.

A motion to approve the tentative agreement passed by roll call; Phil said the union will vote on the TA and—if ratified—the agreement will proceed to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for final ratification in June.

The board did not implement any immediate changes to payroll at the meeting; formal ratification steps remain required before the new pay scale and wage changes take effect.