Tolland, CT

Tolland County Fire Dispatchers, members of UE Local 222/CILU Sub-local 76, have negotiated and ratified a new four-year contract. Bucking the national trend, these workers gained retiree medical insurance for the first time, while substantially increasing their wages.

The new agreement, which goes into effect July 1, 2008, will provide each worker, after retirement, with up to $800 for medical insurance. If the policy costs more than that, the retiree will pay the difference.

Wages will increase 4.5 percent in the first year, 4.5 percent in the second year, and 4 percent in each of the final two years. Active employees will continue to be receive medical coverage with no cost sharing, except that new hires will pay 15 percent. No new hiring is anticipated anytime soon. The dispatchers also gained two personal days per year, separate from their sick leave. The doubled their life insurance coverage, from $25,000 to $50,000.

Sub-local 76’s negotiators were President Correy Church and Doug Racicot, assisted by UE Field Organizer Cathy Granoth.