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Council previewed three-year tentative labor deals: police, public-works and transit/library units ratified by unions
Summary
City staff presented tentative three-year agreements ratified by bargaining units: police (CWA Local 7176) would receive a 4% COLA plus phased market adjustments for officers; AFSCME/Local 828 (public works, transit, library) would receive a 3% COLA with health‑insurance changes. Council supported further public explanation and planned hearings.
City negotiators told the Burlington City Council on Feb. 23 that two bargaining units have ratified tentative three-year labor agreements and staff asked the council to place the items on the regular agenda for public explanation.
Mr. Bird and staff summarized the principal terms. The police unit (CWA Local 7176) ratified a three-year proposal with a 4% cost-of-living adjustment and officer-specific market adjustments to the base wage of 5% in year one, 2% in year two and 2% in year three; the proposal also updates overtime and special-event pay language. Health-insurance language was updated to align with the city's CABco consortium, and employees would pay 7% of premium costs up to an agreed cap that escalates per the contract.
The AFSCME/Local 828 agreement (covering public works, transit and certain library employees) is a three-year deal with a 3% COLA, limited base-wage adjustments for some positions, transit language required by federal rules, and the same health-insurance contribution structure for employees (7% to a capped schedule).
Councilmembers said they wanted public hearings and a fuller explanation of the police-market adjustments before final council action; staff stated the contracts have been ratified by the unions and will fold negotiated side agreements (for example, event-standby billing for the fire department) into final consolidated language once bargaining concludes. No final council adoption or votes were recorded during the Feb. 23 work session; several councilmembers asked that the police and AFSCME items be discussed on the regular meeting agenda so the public can hear the details.
