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Tentative contract reached with engineers’ union; finance staff say department will cover budget impact
Summary
City HR reported a tentative agreement with SCIU 888 covering about 11 engineering positions: $1.50/hour increase retroactive to July 1, 2025, followed by 2% increases in subsequent years, a $1,500 one‑time bonus and new incentives for degrees and PE licensure; the budget impact is modest and DPW has funding to cover it.
Bill Mahoney, director of HR and Labor Relations, told the finance committee the city reached a tentative agreement with the SCIU 888 unit representing engineering staff after 11 bargaining sessions. Mahoney summarized the main terms: a $1.50‑per‑hour increase retroactive to July 1, 2025; 2% wage increases in each of the following three contract years; a $1,500 one‑time bonus upon settlement; an expanded weekly academic stipend (raised from $15 to $25 per week for certain engineering degrees); and a new $75‑per‑week incentive for employees who obtain a Massachusetts Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Mahoney said the contract covers the period beginning July 1, 2025, through the subsequent multi‑year term; finance staff estimated an unbudgeted impact of about $59,000 for the current year, and the Department of Public Works reported it can absorb the cost using funding from vacant positions.
Councilors asked how many employees are covered (about 11, with one or two vacant positions) and whether the pattern of increases matches other recent settlements; Mahoney said the first‑year increase is higher for retention while later years align with 2% settlements elsewhere.
Ending: The committee had no further objections and advanced the item to the regular council meeting.
