2 Vernon Municipal Unions Get New Contracts, Modest Raises

VERNON, CT — Two small but prominent municipal unions have new contracts, Vernon officials announced Wednesday morning.

The town council unanimously endorsed the new collective bargaining agreements the night before.

The Vernon Department of Public Works Supervisors union reached a new three-year deal without the presence of lawyers, town administrator Michael Purcaro said. The new deal for the five employees took just two meetings, he added.

The new contract takes effect July 1 and calls for raises of 1.95 percent for each of the next three years, Purcaro said.

The savings generated by the quick negotiations led to signing bonuses of $350 for each union member, Purcaro said.

A vision plan fully paid by the town was also added to the benefit package.

The Water Pollution Control supervisors union, which represents three staffers at the sewer plant, has a four-year deal, retroactive to 2019.

The general wage increase was settled at 1.75 percent as the town's last best offer as the sides were headed to arbitration, Purcaro said.

The union had proposed a 4 percent increase each year.

The insurance premium paid by the staffers will go up 1 percent in the final two years of the contract, he said.