Unions and residents urge Boca Raton to extend bonuses and pay parity for blue-collar workers

Dozens of residents and union representatives told the Boca Raton City Council on Nov. 4 that frontline city workers were excluded from recent one‑time payments and raises and urged officials to correct the disparity.

State Representative Marie Woodson, who said she is of Haitian descent, pressed the council to “see the disparity between the blue collar workers and the white collar workers, and for you to take action,” arguing that many frontline employees cannot afford to live in the city they serve.

Union leaders amplified that message. Alfonso Mayfield, president of the Florida Public Services Union, told the council that blue‑collar workers “are the backbone of the city of Boca” and said members were left out after management and white‑collar employees received bonuses. Charles Ridley, political coordinator for SEIU, urged the council to use the city’s available tools to reach a fair solution and rebuild trust with the workforce.

Several city employees described their wages directly: park ranger Matthew Chapnick said he has worked 10 years for the city and currently earns $21.75 an hour, and lifeguard Michael Clark urged officials to “show up a little bit and help us all out.”

City Manager Mr. Brown responded that the city is operating under a collective‑bargaining agreement negotiated in 2022 that took effect Oct. 1. He laid out the contract’s wage provisions: the increase was the greater of 3.75% or a flat amount by years of service, with the group average coming in at about 6.05%. “We will begin negotiations this spring for a new contract,” Brown said, adding that the administration’s position is that wages should be negotiated at the bargaining table.

Council members expressed sympathy for the workers and acknowledged the trust issues raised by union representatives and employees. Council member Thompson said he wanted staff to find options: “I would suggest that we direct staff to find a solution to get these hardworking folks … make sure that they not only get treated fairly, but they feel like they’re treated fairly,” he said. Several other council members urged patience while the new city manager and the newly appointed city attorney review past negotiations and look for administrative options.

The council did not adopt a payroll change or a specific one‑time bonus at the Nov. 4 meeting. City staff said formal wage changes should be handled through collective bargaining, but council members asked staff to report back on potential administrative steps and parity options before negotiations begin next year.

What comes next: council members said they expect further discussion during the upcoming bargaining cycle and asked staff to return with analyses of any feasible, lawful options that could address the workers’ concerns.