Laborers Contract Includes Back Pay

The Northport Board of Trustees approved a five year contract with members of the blue collar workers union on Tuesday after three years of on again-off again negotiations.

Trustee Tom Kehoe acknowledged that, although negotiations between the Village and union reps became "contentious" at times, all parties bargained in good faith.

"Once we really sat down at the table it moved along smoothly," he said. "We didn't get everything we wanted, they didn't get everything that they wanted, but...we're in agreement that it's a good deal for both parties."

The contract with members of the local 342 Union, representing about 25 village employees in the Department of Public Works, the Sewer Plant, and dispatchers for both the fire and police departments, spans from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2015.

It provides for wage increases of 2 percent as of April 2012, 2.5 percent as of April 1, 2013 and 3 percent as of April 1, 2014, without interest for backpay and certain other modifications to the collective bargaining agreement.

Concessions made by the union include a new step program for incoming laborers which requires three years of service before reaching top pay and contribution into health insurance. There is also a retirement incident for higher paid employees.

During a confrontation between the union and the village board at a meeting in October, Union President Bill Hennessey said the workers wanted a "fair shake" and wages comparable to those of surrounding municipalities such as Huntington.