This spring and summer have been busy for UE Local 222, an amalgamated local which represents town and school board workers across the state of Connecticut.
Berlin blue collar workers settled a three-year contract with a general wage increase of 2.25 percent for each of the three years. Disability increased from $300 to $600 per week, and long term disability was added at 50% of base pay, with a minimum of $100 and maximium of $5,000 per month. The contract was negotiated by Sublocal President Bill Deblasio, assisted by Field Organizer Sherry Bryant.
Employees of the Norwich Housing Authority bargained a one-year contract extension due to a new director being hired, with a two percent general wage increase. The negotiating committee consisted of Daryl Drake, Tom Mclnerney and Stephen Chiangi. They were assisted by Field Org. Bryant and UE General President Peter Knowlton.
Dispatchers for the town of Groton, who were recently merged into the Police Department, negotiated a new one-year contract with their new department. The contracts raises wages by 2 percent and maintains the existing preferred-provider organization (PPO) health care plan. Through the negotiations, the union and the the Chief of Police developed a good ability to communicate, which the sublocal leadership feel will be helpful in finding solutions that will work for both the dispatchers and the department in the future. The negotiating committee consisted of Sublocal President David Smith and Vice President Deb Maine, assisted by Field Organizers Bryant and Annie McDonald.