Lewiston council hears hours of public comment on AFSCME technicians contract; decision set for Monday

The Lewiston City Council held a special meeting to discuss whether to direct staff to enter negotiations with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) technicians collective bargaining group (Local 1124). HR Director Nikki Provence told councilors the city recognizes about 72 positions under the AFSCME group, 70 of which are currently filled, and that roughly 30 employees were paying union dues as of the last payroll.

The discussion drew several union leaders and dozens of members to the public comment period. AFSCME Local president Ryan Bridal said the union provides “a continued good work environment” and argued collective bargaining supports recruitment and retention, while AFSCME Council 2 representative Laura Hansen told councilors a negotiated contract “creates a clear and agreed upon set of rules and expectations for both management and employees.” Several long‑tenured employees described safety pay, boot allowances and holiday/overtime provisions as protections that keep staff in Lewiston and ensure services are covered around the clock.

Why it matters: The contract applies to multiple public‑works roles — parks, streets, water and wastewater operators, custodians and related technicians — and contains wage, overtime and benefit provisions that differ from the city’s personnel policy. Those differences affect pay calculations (including how overtime is computed), certification pay and…