Budget Committee Considers United Steelworkers Union Agreement
Union contract for department heads faces delay, uncertainty following Saturday's failed override.
BRIDGEWATER - June 17 - The Bridgewater Budget and Finance Committee continued discussions on a United Steelworkers union contract covering 25 department heads and professional staff positions, postponing a vote until after the Finance Committee meets and Saturday's override election results are known.
The contract, which expired last June 30, provides 2% cost-of-living adjustments for each of three years . Seven current employees at the top salary step would receive a one-time 2.5% increase to their base salary under the agreement.
"We like the BAA agreement that you approved recently for the administrative positions. This one is in line with that with a couple of minor changes," Town Manager Blythe Robinson said during the June 17 meeting.
The United Steelworkers bargaining unit represents department leaders, assistants and professional staff across town government. Negotiations began over a year ago as part of broader contract discussions with multiple unions.
Councilor Adelene Ellenberg expressed concerns about the timing of contract approvals given the pending override vote. "I don't think that we should be locking ourselves into something with something that may pass or may not pass," Ellenberg said. "I think depending on what the voters do, that will give us better headway in terms of future negotiations."
Ellenberg argued the town's financial capacity depends on the override outcome. "It can afford more if it passes. It can't afford if it doesn't pass. We all know that," she said, recommending both the contract and related funding transfers be put on hold.
Robinson explained the contract's structural changes aim to control long-term costs. Previous contracts added salary steps at the top of the pay scale, but negotiators chose not to continue that practice.
"We purposely said sorry, we can't continue to just make this more expensive. We need to really look hard at how we can keep good employees but at the same time keep it affordable," Robinson said.
The contract eliminates the ability for new employees to receive a $4,000 annual stipend for declining town health insurance, a benefit which an estimated 10 current employees currently retain. Officials said paying the stipend costs less than providing family health insurance plans.
Committee members questioned the 4.5% total increase for employees below step 12, who receive both a 2.5% step increase and 2% cost-of-living adjustment. Town Manager Blithe Robinson noted this follows typical public sector wage structures.
"Most employees, and I looked at the list, and you can look at the list too, are in the lower end of the salary scale. So it would take them a while to get there if they stayed," Robinson said regarding the salary cap impact.
The contract also limits vacation carryover to reduce future compensated absence costs when employees retire at higher salaries.
Officials emphasized the difficulty recruiting for specialized positions like assessor, building official and Council on Aging director. The town recently lost its Council on Aging director to another community offering higher compensation.
"This is the one union where we're like, we are not keeping pace with the market," Robinson said. "Our peers, communities, positions that have gotten increasingly hard to fill."
The committee voted unanimously to continue the contract discussion to their next meeting, along with two related funding transfer orders totaling the retroactive costs.
Committee members also discussed adopting the HERO Act's Clause 22I, which provides cost-of-living adjustments for veterans' tax exemptions. The 3.3% increase would cost approximately $420 annually.
"This is just basically a cost of living adjustment at 3.3%," said Council President Johnny Loreti. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the measure to the full council.
Discussion of the more expensive Clause 22J provision, which provides tax exemptions based on disability percentages, was continued for further study as part of broader senior citizen tax relief discussions.
The committee reviewed the town's golf course operations, which transitioned from municipal management to a private company several years ago after the general fund subsidized golf operations by $1.35 million between fiscal years 2011 and 2023.
"The taxpayer and the general government was subsidizing the golf course for many years. So that is really the reason why the decision was made to, you know, go out to bid, hire a contractor to run it like a professional business," Guerrini said.
The current management company, Trim Indigo, generated $2.4 million in revenue in 2024, up from $1.6 million in 2021-2022. The town receives percentage-based payments plus a $125,000 annual lease fee for use of the Old Scotland Links name.
Committee members also reviewed the town's grant funding history, which averaged approximately $8 million annually in recent years, excluding pandemic-related funds. The town recently received $4.9 million in ARPA funds for the fire station and expects an additional $248,130 for well construction.
Officials noted the town lacks a dedicated grant writer, with department heads and staff applying for funding as opportunities arise.
The committee plans to meet again following Saturday's failed override vote to address budget appropriations.Â
Watch the complete meeting courtesy of the Town of Bridgewater.
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