Mayor Ganim Signs Concession Agreement with Municipal Unions

From the City of Bridgeport:

Mayor Joe Ganim signed concession agreements on Tuesday, July 19

with the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) and the Bridgeport City Supervisor Association (BCSA) that freeze wages and guarantee no layoffs for the duration of their contracts. Assumed in the current fiscal year 2017 budget is $4,000,000 in savings from union concessions. The agreement is expect to save tax payers approximately $500,000 in the next fiscal year. As result of this agreement, layoffs for 27 employees have been rescinded. The no layoff clause covers nearly 1,000 members in both unions.

“We are very happy to have this agreement that represents significant savings for tax payers and also saves jobs in the municipal workforce,” said Mayor Ganim. “We still have a significant budget hole to fill, and we hope that the spirit of cooperation is shared by the other municipal employee unions as we work through challenging fiscal times for the city. As mayor, my door is always open to discussion with any unions, and I hope to work together in partnership to achieve the needed savings.”

In exchange for the no layoff clause, the unions have agreed to zero wage increases for the remainder of their contracts, which both end on June 30, 2018. These concession agreements have protected 27 jobs in 14 different departments; 139 employees from the BCSA, 695 employees from NAGE and 76 unaffiliated workers are affected by the new contracts.

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