Local 1040 Bargaining Update

Local 1040 has successfully negotiated a successor contract for employees of the Town of Westfield. The four-year contract is retroactive to January 1, 2004 and runs through December 31, 2007.

The Westfield unit includes white-and blue-collar workers in Westfield's administrative offices and the town's Traffic Enforcement Officers.

Contract negotiatiosn began in Fall 2003, and an agreement was reached on July 1, 2004. The new contract was ratified by Westfiled employees on July 12 by a substantial majority.

Contract Highlights

The new contract includes the following changes:

* Wages: Wage increases are as follows: effective January 1, 2004 - Step plus 1.5 percent (approximate net value of 5 1/2 percent); effective January 1, 2005 - Step plus 1.5 percent (approximate net value of 5 1/2 percent); effective January 2, 2006 - Step plus 2 pecent (approximate net value of 6 percent); effective January 1, 2007 - Step plus 2 percent (approximate net value of 6 percent).

For those already at their maximum in grades 7 through 11, there will be an additional step added equaling 2 percent effective January 1, 2004 (in lieu of Step plus 1.5 percent) and a 2 percent increase in each of the remaining years.

The Local 1040 bargaining team included Westfield employees Vanita Claiborne, Chief Shop Steward; Deborah Jorgensen, Shop Steward; Jonathan Pierce, Sr. and Jonathan Pierce, Jr. (alternate), along with Local 1040 Staff Representative Tom Bruno and CWA National Staff Representative Victor Waller.