Towns agrees to terms with cops
Published on November 7th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - Town Administrator David Ragucci recently secured a tentative contract pact with the Stoneham Patrolman's Association that would dole out an eight percent pay hike over the next three years.
While the overall salary increases mirror the terms of the collective bargaining deal awarded by the School Committee last September to the Stoneham Teachers' Association (STA), the police patrolman union agreed to pay an additional five percent of annual health insurance plan costs.
Based upon those provisions, the law enforcement union will foot a three percent higher share of health premiums, when the tentative agreement is compared to the deal inked between school officials and the STA.
Specifically, the municipal union would now contribute 20 percent of insurance plan premiums, while the STA - kicking in another two percent towards health coverage in exchange for its eight percent pay hike - will contribute 17 percent of medical coverage expenses.
"As it stands right now, we have one memorandum of understanding signed with the patrolman's union," Ragucci confirmed on Tuesday afternoon. "I believe it was passed by them as well."
"I also have one that's not signed with the superior officers' union, that is basically an agreement in principal," added the Town Administrator, who described ongoing progress with a public works labor union as well. "I believe the rest of them [the town's labor unions] will follow suit."
Based upon the tentative collective bargaining pact, the five percent jump in insurance premium contributions would become effective in July of 2008.
The break down in pay raises would include a 3 percent hike on July 1, 2007, a 1 percent increase in January of 2008, a 2.5 percent allotment in July 1, 2008, and finally, a 1.5 percent raise in January of 2009.
At last October's Special Town Meeting, the assembly endorsed a $611,000 increase to FY'08 departmental budgets for collective bargaining agreements across the town.
"Let me say this, I have always stated publicly that I felt the give back on the health insurance was not enough. And I made it very clear to the unions that the same deal would not be offered," said Ragucci, when asked about the patrolman union's willingness to shoulder a greater burden of health contributions than the STA.
According to Selectman John DePinto, the patrolman's union deserves high praise for the health insurance concession, especially since Stoneham teachers will be paying three percent less towards premium costs.
Given the nature of the STA agreement, DePinto was shocked that the Town Administrator was able to successfully negotiate a more significant health coverage increase.
DePinto, who was hoping for a better overall deal for the town, has repeatedly chastised the School Committee for penning the deal with the STA - insisting that the elected officials broke with an agreed negotiation strategy.
School Committee members have retorted that the deal with the STA was necessary in order to partially plug a massive exodus of Stoneham educators to surrounding municipalities, which offer higher salaries.
"He honestly did better than I thought he could do," the Selectman said of Ragucci's efforts. "And I want to thank the patrolman's union for stepping-up to the plate with the health insurance give back. We really needed that."
"I think Dave's hands were tied as far as pay increases go, because once you give something to one union, you kind of have to give it to the other," the Selectman opined.
Sharing his counterpart's thoughts on the previous STA deal, Selectman Paul Rotondi expressed disappointment with the contract agreements negotiated to date.
Although Rotondi also welcomed the larger health insurance concessions, he believes that the pacts being agreed to - which the Selectman admittedly endorsed - will place Stoneham in a precarious financial situation.
"I'm not really happy with any of the settlements, but that's the best we can do," said Rotondi. "I wanted a bigger give back from everybody on the health insurance. But we're stuck with the reality of negotiating and I think Dave got the best he can get."
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!