SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board voted unanimously to approve a union contract for Department of Public Works employees through Fiscal Year 2026 at a recent meeting.
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald recapped the details of the three-year contract that applies to 16 employees, which includes a cost-of-living total of $125,468.
“This collective bargaining contract actually proposes a new salary table with a fourth step,” Fitzgerald said. “We actually, over the last few years, have worked with the DPW to really add more structure to their collective bargaining agreement. This allows us to provide more of a career path… these are new jobs and new steps and lanes.”
Other details revealed by Fitzgerald included OSHA training for public work employees, increased vacation time for new employees from one week to two, and a $1,000 signing bonus for mechanic equipment operators.
“I think this is a contract that helps us really build upon structure,” Fitzgerald said. “We want this collective bargaining contract to create career paths… we flush our toilets, we expect it to work. We turn on our water, we expect it work. This is the department that helps us support things that oftentimes we take for granted.”
Board member Peter Spellios expressed his desire to see a sole cost of living adjustment across all contracts at Monday’s meeting.
“I am particularly focused on and getting to the day where when you’re negotiating contracts where the COLA isn’t seen as the only lever the town has,” Spellios said. “Let’s talk about the other stuff, but cost of living should not be one of those things that should be on the bargaining table… I just feel as though it’s an unfortunate cudgel in negotiations.”
Director of Finance and Administration at Town of Swampscott Amy Sarro joined the board virtually to demonstrate how the town fit this new contract into its budget.
“As of right now, the health insurance line is projected to have tailings this year,” Sarro said. “Which is where we’re making this adjustment out of so that we’re doing it within the general fund incorporations.”
Sarro added that the health insurance line is projected to have approximately $100,000 in tailings.
