Trumbull, CT
The support staff for the Trumbull Board of Education, members of UE Local 222/CILU Sub-local 21, have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. Gross wages will increase by 3.5 percent per year, a total of 14 percent over four years. The first raise is retroactive to July 1, 2007.
Health insurance costs were a major issue, and members were able to limit increases in cost sharing to only a few percent. Employee contributions will be 11 percent, 12 percent, 13 percent and 13 percent, respectively, in the four years of the new contract.
The employer put voluntary Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) on the bargaining table for the first time, which the union agreed to only after the employer agreed to pay 50 percent of the annual deductibles of $1,500 for in-network and $3,000 for out-of-network coverage.
A major improvement will require the employer to pay out 25 percent of accumulated sick leave to any member leaves employment with 10 years of continuous service, or five years service if over age 60.
Negotiations were conducted by Sub-local 21 President John Virag, assisted by UE Field Organizer John Woodruff.