Stonington signs contract with professional employees union
Stonington — The town has reached agreement on a new three-year contract with the union that represents 15 professional employees in Town Hall.
It is now negotiating new contracts with the unions that represent police officers, public works employees and Town Hall clerical workers, all of whose contracts expire on June 30.
The new contract with the Stonington Public Administrators Association calls for 2.6 percent raises in each of the three years covered by the agreement.
In addition, the employees will pay 1 percent more toward their health insurance premiums each year and will have increased health insurance and prescription co-pays.
The new contract takes effect July 1.
SPAA union President Roger Kizer, the town’s information technology director, said the negotiations were conducted without the presence of attorneys, saving both parties money.
“It was a level of communication and cooperation we haven’t seen in years,” he said.
First Selectman Rob Simmons said the SPAA union “exhibited cooperation and flexibility in its approach to the process.”
He said the union worked with Director of Administrative Services Vincent Pacileo to identify all the issues that needed to be addressed and quickly resolved virtually all of them.
Simmons said discussions are underway with the other three unions and good progress is being made.
He said funds have been included in the 2016-17 budget to account for any raises.
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