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Mayor presents $1.47 million appropriation to fund new SMEU Unit B contract; council approves
Summary
Mayor outlined wage-compensation changes in a newly ratified three-year contract for Somerville Municipal Employees Union (SMEU) Unit B and requested a $1,472,992 appropriation from salary contingency to fund the settlement; the council approved the appropriation and rejected a motion to reconsider.
The Somerville mayor asked the City Council on Tuesday to appropriate $1,472,992 from a salary contingency account to cover the city—s share of a newly ratified collective bargaining agreement with the Somerville Municipal Employees Union (SMEU), Unit B.
The mayor described the contract as the result of a wage compensation study and targeted adjustments to address long‑standing inequities. "In the first two years, everyone in Unit B received a 6% raise," the mayor said, adding that FY25 market adjustments will increase starting salaries for new Unit B members by an average of 17% and raise existing member salaries on average by 14%.
The mayor said the agreement also improves benefits, including paid family and medical leave, increased vacation time and better reimbursement for employees who use personal vehicles for city business. The administration said the contract covers about 25 city departments.
Ed Halloran, president of SMEU, spoke at the meeting and described the contract as a major step forward for retention and recruitment. "This may be the best contract the members of this union have ever received," Halloran said, thanking bargaining team members and city staff.
Councilor Kimbon moved to approve the appropriation. The council approved the item on the floor. A later motion to reconsider the vote failed on a roll call: 10 councilors voted "No" on reconsideration with one councilor absent, and the mayoral appropriation remained approved.
Why it matters: The appropriation funds across‑the‑board wage adjustments and market corrections for hundreds of municipal workers and represents the city—s largest employee bargaining unit reaching a new settlement.
