Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct reference and spelling to The Nathaniel Witherell nursing home.
The Greenwich Board of Education unanimously approved a contract with a labor union that represents 182 public employees, at a work session Thursday night.
The Labors International Union of North America Local 136 represents paraprofessionals and security personnel of Greenwich Public Schools, the Department of Public Works, the Finance Department, and The Nathaniel Witherell nursing home. The contract with the board is retroactive to July 1, 2010, and will remain in effect until June 30, 2013. Its members will see an increase in their compensation by 1.38 percent, 2.82 percent, and 3.68 percent annually per the contract.
Peter Sherr, a board of education member and negotiations committee chairman, summarized the contract as being centered on compensation amounts. “Both parties agreed to focus on wages; there were no other substantial issues,” he said.
As a result of the school board approval, the pact will be forwarded to the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting for approval. In retirement payouts, its member will see an increase by 1.63 percent, 2.92 percent, and 3.42 percent in each successful year. In health coverage, employees will pay an increase of 0.98 percent, 1.21 percent, and 1.74 percent during the same time frame.
Board member Nancy Kail called the contract reasonable, and said the town wants to move toward high-deductable health savings accounts. “Overall, this is a big success,” she said. “We look forward to being well-received at the RTM.”
Jonathan Cohen voiced similar support for the contract. “These are the lowest paid employees in our school district,” Cohen said. “We have to be sensitive to providing a living wage.”
Michael Bodson initially criticized the compensation package as being too expensive but later changed his mind. “These people work way too long for way too little,” he said. “I do not want to pick on these people.”
