Police Dispatchers, Town Reach Accord

By Marianne Sullivan
Published on 12/16/2004

The town and the union representing the nine civilian communications technicians, secretaries, and clerks of the Police Department have reached a contract agreement. The agreement is retroactive to July 1 and extends through June 30, 2008. It provides wage increases of 2.8 percent in 2004 and another 2.8 percent in fiscal year 2005. In each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007, employees will receive 3.2 percent increases. The town and the union--the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE)--were in binding arbitration when they reached agreement. The law allows the two sides to continue negotiations while arbitration proceeds. The union ratified the contract in early December and the Board of Selectmen approved it Dec. 6. First Selectman Tom Scarpati said he believed the agreement provided "a fair wage and benefits package" that was "reasonable for both sides." Because the communication dispatch operation, like the Police Department, is a 24-hour operation, the contract also includes premiums for those employees who work shifts from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Employees working the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift receive a 35-cent per hour premium in addition to their regular rate of pay. Those working from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. receive a 50-cent per hour premium. All full-time employees also receive longevity compensation. Paid once each year, the longevity payment effective in 2004 ranges from $225 for employees with five years service to $550 for employees with 25 years service. Part-time employees receive pro-rated longevity based on the number of hours worked. Medical insurance coverage is available to full-time employees and eligible family members. Employees, however, pay a percentage of the premium cost. Under one medical insurance plan option, employees will pay nine percent of the premium cost in 2004. The percentage gradually increases to 11 percent in the final years of the contract. Under a second insurance option, co-pays range from five percent up to seven percent. The employee is also responsible for co-payments for doctor visits and prescriptions as well as annual deductibles. This contract adds a vision care rider. There are also changes to the pension plan. Under the new contract, employees will be vested in the pension plan after five years. The previous vesting period was 10 years. In addition, employees will now be able to contribute two percent of their pre-tax salary into the pension fund. Under the new wage schedule, an information system manager earns $23.96 an hour in the first year; $24.63 in the second year; $25.32 in the third year; and $26.03 in the final year. A communication technician with at least 18 months of experience--the maximum pay on the four-step pay scale--earns $17.53 an hour in the first year of the contract; $18.02 in the second year; $18.52 in the third year; and $19.04 in the final year.