Supervisors union, town agree to first contract

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PROSPECT — The Town Council has approved the first contract for one of the town’s newest union.

The supervisors union agreed to a three-year contract with a 3 percent raise starting July 1, 2017, and raises of 2.75 percent the following two years.

Because this year’s 3 percent raise was previously approved and built into the budget, employees are not owed any back pay, according to Mayor Robert Chatfield.

The union consists of six supervisors in the mayor’s office, library, public works, land use and community center.

Supervisors union President Chris Moffo, who is the town’s recreation director, said the members of the union were pleased with the contract.

“Everybody involved approved of it,” Moffo said. “We were happy with the way the process went and how everybody involved worked well together.”

Moffo called the contract a good starting point for the union.

Three unions formed last year in response to proposed changes to the town charter, Chatfield said.

“It wasn’t about pay,” Chatfield said. “They wanted to make sure they had job security.”

Until last year, the town’s only union, which has existed for around 20 years, was the public works union. Now, all employees, other than part-time seasonal workers, belong to one of four unions.

The supervisors’ contract follows the same format as the public works contract, Chatfield said.

Supervisors will get one extra sick day under the new contract, for a total of nine. Their personal days and holidays remain the same.

The contract also outlines grievance and disciplinary procedures which have been long-standing practice in town, but never codified in writing, Chatfield said.

Prospect has saved thousands of dollars by switching from Anthem health insurance to the state’s plan through Oxford Health Cigna in July, Chatfield said. The town is locked into that plan for three years, he said.

Supervisors also receive life insurance through Principal Financial, he said.

The town is still negotiating contracts with the new police and municipal employees unions.

Luke Marshall contributed to this article.