Contract Ratified; Approval at 98%
August 16, 2011
Close to 98 percent of members casting a ballot voted to ratify the Memorandum of Understanding that extends the existing collective bargaining agreement through June 30, 2014 and gives members in bargaining Units 1, 3, and 6 a 6% pay raise over fiscal years 2013 and 2014. (Please note that this agreement does not cover MassDOT employees. Negotiations for a MassDOT contract are ongoing.)
"This vote is unprecedented in its overwhelming approval of the contract," said Theresa McGoldrick, national executive vice president and Local 207 president. "The bargaining team is proud to have been able to deliver this exceptional contract to members in an exceptionally difficult economic climate. We're happy we were able to make a difference and were able to provide some stability to our members and their families during these uncertain times."
The contract also provides a “swap” of two holidays abolished by the legislature (Bunker Hill and Evacuation Day) for two additional personal days for current employees.
John Mann, president of Local 292, echoed McGoldrick's comments.
"I think for most members, this was an easy vote," Mann said. "We secured 6% raises and resolved the issue of the holidays with no harm to our members. We won a lot in this contract, and our hardworking members deserve nothing less."
Jack Donegan, president of Local 291, has been in the union business for decades and says the overwhelming support for the contract was almost unheard of.
"I've been at this a long time and have worked on a lot of contracts. I can't remember a time that the vote was so overwhelmingly in favor," Donegan said. "The raises and language we negotiated in this contract goes to show you how powerful solidarity is and how much members have to gain when they're represented by an extraordinarily strong union."