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Contract negotiations between the town
of Franklin and highway department employees have officially
stalled, as both sides can’t agree on the rate of pay increases for
the next three years.
On Monday, the town board declared the
negotiations at an impasse after its final offer to union
representatives on December 8 didn’t even garner a response.
And for outgoing Franklin Supervisor
Mary Ellen Keith, the utter lack of progress is a frustration,
especially considering what she calls the extra perks of municipal
employment.
Keith said that she believes the union
is holding out for the next administration, which takes office
January 1 under Supervisor-elect Art Wilman, in the hopes that they
may get a better deal.
“I am really disappointed in the
highway department that they did not accept this 6 percent increase
over the next three years,” Keith said. “This is an addition to the
benefits of 12 holidays, five personal days, sick time, clothing
allowance, vacation, bereavement and a Cadillac health insurance
plan with employee contributions of 15 percent of the total cost of
the premium.”
According to sources close to the
story, town highway employees wanted an annual 6 percent pay
increase over the next three years or an 18 percent raise by 2013.
But in uncertain economic conditions,
the town is only willing to dole out one-third of that amount,
instead offering annual two-percent increases.
The current contract for the town’s
seven highway employees expires on December 31 and with an impasse
officially declared, highway crews will spend at-least part of 2010
without an agreement.
Their pay and benefits will remain at
current levels until a new agreement is reached, but they will be
required to cover most of the costs associated with their health
care coverage.
In fiscal year 2008-2009, the annual
income for Franklin Highway Department employees ranged from $33,870
to $25,659 with the average worker earning about $31,000.
The negotiations will be going to
arbitration in the coming months.
-Jon
Alexander, 12-30-09
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