City workers in Bridgeport are making some personal sacrifices to help with the financial crisis at city hall. They are giving up some of their paychecks to avoid layoffs. It amounts to everyone chipping in to help keep some from losing their jobs.
One worker. who gave up a week's pay, was quoted as saying she willingly gave it up for fear of what would happen to her co-workers. She said "no one can afford to lose their job right now."
The City and several of its unions have come to tentative contract agreements, taking zero-percent pay raises and pay deferments, all meant to save the city several million dollars and stave off a potential $20 million dollar deficit at the end of the current fiscal year, according to a release from Mayor Bill Finch.
The unions include: Social Workers, SEIU Union Local 1199, Bridgeport Typographical Union Local 252 and Teamsters Union Local 191.
These actions follow the vote by Bridgeport Police Union 1159 to accept a four-year deal with two years of zero-percent raises and a deferment of holiday and vacation pay until retirement, among other concessions.
The city is still in active negotiations with other unions such as NAGE, LIUNA and AFSCME, but progress has been slow, and decisions must be made before the end of the calendar year in order to effect a 6-month savings on the current fiscal year’s budget. Certain labor unions require specific notice regarding layoffs, and contracts differ among unions.
“A few weeks ago, we gave all the unions a number they needed to hit in order to avert layoffs,” said Finch. “The Police department stepped up to the plate and their decision will help us save $850,000 in this fiscal year, in addition to the value of a zero percent pay increase for two years. Other unions also have taken the city’s dire financial situation to heart and have prompted their membership to accept zero-percent raises and other pay deferments in order to keep the city solvent.”
The City has scheduled a meeting with Bridgeport Firefighters Union Local 834 to discuss reopening its contract to negotiate concessions for the current budget year.
Following are the details of the tentative agreements:
Social Workers, SEIU Union Local 1199 – Zero-percent wage increase for period covering 7/1/08 to 12/31/08; $1,341 training pay allotment to revert back to the City.
Bridgeport Typographical Union Local 252 – Zero-percent wage increases for FY 2009-09; two-year contract duration, retroactive to 7/1/08 to 6/30/10, with a re-opener for wages and health benefits effective 6/30/09.
Teamsters Union Local 191 – Zero-percent wage increase for fiscal year 2008-09; 2-year contract duration 7/1/08 to 6/30/10; with a re-opener for wages, health benefits and sick leave effective 6/30/09.
