TOWNSHIP APPROVES NEW DEAL WITH DPW, FIREFIGHTER UNIONS FOR 8.75% RAISES

Just over a month after the Township Committee approved a new four-year contract with the police officers union, the TC gave approval to similar deals with three other township worker unions.

In a 5-0 vote on Tuesday, the governing body approved deals with the Maplewood United Construction Trades and Industrial Employees Union Local 621A, which represents public works employees; CWA Local 31; and the Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association Local 25.

Each deal includes raises of 8.75% over four years for each employee, similar to what the police received in October. That breaks down to 2% for each of the first two years, 2.25% the third year and 2.5% the fourth year.

"They mirror the agreements you have already said 'yes' to," Township Administrator Joe Manning told the TC. "We will have four years ahead of us that we will know the labor costs and that's a good thing to have."