Agreement Ends 7 Years of Waiting for DPW Union

If all goes according to plan, a group of town employees could soon see cost-of-living increases for the first time in seven years.

Hampton Public Works Department staff represented by the local chapter of State Employees’ Association of New Hampshire Local 1984 have been working since 2006 without a contract due to impasse after impasse.

Negotiations broke down several times in recent years even as other Hampton unions working without contracts received new deals.

DPW employees have a chance to put all of that behind them, though, as the union and town have reached an agreement on a three-year deal, which must now go before a vote at the annual town meeting in March. 

Dick Nichols, the chairman of the Hampton Board of Selectman and the leader of the town's negotiating team, said the deal is "good" for the town and its employees.

"There were several sticking points, but we overcame them," said Nichols. "Hopefully the voters approve it."

Several union members and union leaders couldn't be reached for comment Monday or Tuesday.

Nichols said the net cost to taxpayers is about $300,000 spread over the three years of the contract, which adjusts the overall pay scale for union employees up 3 percent on April 1, 2014, and moves all current employees to the step they would've been on had the impasses not occurred.

The pay scale will increase again by 1.25 percent on April 1, 2015, and another 1.25 percent on April 1, 2016. There will be no retroactive payments, according to Nichols.

The employees' share of health insurance costs increase as well under the new contract. 

Existing employees will pay 15 percent of a point of service plan coverage, for which they currently pay 10 percent. A new health maintenance organization option will cost existing employees 10 percent, while employees hired after April 1, 2014, will contribute 20 percent toward that HMO policy.

Other notable changes in the contract include two new steps in the pay plan. Employees will receive a 1 percent increase once they reach 25 and 30 years of service.