Town council approves three-year labor agreement with public works union

The New Canaan Town Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a three-year labor agreement with the New Canaan Public Works Union, Local 1303 of Council 4, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Town staff and the union reached the deal after mediation with the state board of mediation and arbitration, town labor attorney Chris Hodson told the council. Hodson said mediation helped the parties avoid mandatory binding interest arbitration, which in Connecticut would require an arbitrator to select one party’s last best offer. “It can be an uncertain result and we like a sure thing, plus it can be expensive,” Hodson said.

Under the agreement, employee health-plan cost-sharing will increase in scheduled steps: employees in HSA-style plans will see premiums rise by 13.5% in year one, 14% in year two and 15% in year three; employees remaining in the PPO will see cost-sharing rise from about 20% to 21% in year one, then 22% and 23%, and the PPO will be removed from the contract at its end. Wage increases are scheduled at 2% in year one and 2.7% in both years two and three, according to the presentation to council members. The contract also increases the employee fitness reimbursement from $250 to $750 per year, raises the steel-toed shoe allowance from $250 to $300, and increases the storm meal allowance from $16 to $18 per meal.

Cheryl Jones, who presented the economic terms, told the council she believes the package is fair to both sides. “I believe it’s a very fair contract to both sides,” Jones said during the presentation. Council member Eric Toonam sought and received clarification on the wage schedule before the vote: “I just want to be ridiculously clear and make sure that what we’re talking about is a 2% increase, a 2.7% increase, and a 2.7% increase,” he said; staff confirmed those figures.

The council moved to approve the contract at the meeting. Jennifer Sonos made the motion and Kim (surname recorded as Kim) seconded; the motion passed unanimously. No roll-call vote breakdown was recorded in the meeting transcript.

The agreement follows months of negotiation between town management, public-works leaders and union representatives; Director of Public Works Tiger Mann and union negotiators participated in sessions described to the council. Hodson said the resulting contract aligns with neighboring towns’ settlements.

The contract terms approved Wednesday take effect as written in the agreement; the council did not identify additional implementation conditions during the meeting.