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Select Board approves library and DPW union agreements, separates DPW into two units
Summary
The Foxborough Select Board approved a collective-bargaining agreement for library employees and ratified an AFSCME Unit A contract for DPW workers, plus a side letter separating DPW into Unit A (highway/tree/park) and Unit B (water). Financial changes include a larger FY26 increase to catch up with peer towns and step realignments for select DPW roles.
The Foxborough Select Board on Thursday approved collective-bargaining agreements that adjust pay and steps for municipal employees and formalized a separation of Department of Public Works (DPW) bargaining units.
The board voted to approve a contract for the library employees association that staff described as providing a 3% wage increase in fiscal year 2026 and 2.5% increases in FY27 and FY28; it also adds a new 20-year step (about 2% higher than the prior 15-year step), a floating holiday and a modest longevity increase. "The 3% in that first year is we're finding that we're falling a little bit short with other towns," a town official said, adding the larger initial adjustment is intended to help the town remain competitive.
Separately, the board approved a side letter with AFSCME Local 1702 to separate DPW bargaining into Unit A (highway, tree and park) and Unit B (water), allowing the two groups to be negotiated independently going forward. The board then approved the Unit A contract, which mirrors similar percentage increases (3% in FY26, 2.5% in FY27 and FY28) but includes a step realignment for heavy equipment operators and mechanics instead of an immediate pay raise so those classifications come into alignment with market rates. The Unit A agreement also increases certain certifications and stipend amounts (for example, a welding certification pay increase and a modest CDL stipend) and sets an $800 clothing allowance.
Board members discussed the structure and intent of the cost adjustments. One member said the larger first-year increase is a "catch-up" to address where town pay had fallen relative to neighboring communities. The DPW Unit B contracts (water) were noted as already ratified and were not before the board for action.
The votes were taken during the regular session following a brief executive session called for contract negotiations.
The Select Board did not specify motion-makers on the record for these items. The contracts approved will go into effect per their agreement language and any ratification steps described in the contracts themselves.
