Public works staff to get raise

The Borough Council unanimously approved a contract, giving giving four public works employees a raise of 4.24 percent annually over the next three years.

By: Leon Tovey
   JAMESBURG — The borough’s four public works employees will receive pay increases averaging 4.24 percent annually over the next three years and be eligible for benefits through the state health plan under the conditions of a new, three-year contract approved by the Borough Council on Wednesday.
   The council voted unanimously to approve the contract, which goes into effect Jan 1 and expires Dec. 31, 2008. The contract with Teamsters Local 210, the union that represents Department of Public Works employees, calls for pay increases of 4.65 percent in 2006, 3.45 percent in 2007 and 4.63 percent in 2008.
   Councilman Joseph Jennings, who chairs the council’s Personnel and Negotiations Committee, estimated that the pay increases would cost the borough an additional $7,000 over the three years.
   The contract also stipulates that the borough will offer benefits to the four DPW employees through the state health plan. Currently DPW workers receive insurance through the union. Business Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Denise Jawidzik said that provision would probably cost the borough an additional $5,000 to $6,000 per year.
   Mr. Jennings said negotiations with the union had gone smoothly and said he was satisfied with the contract.
   The contract also established a new, 16-step wage guide for the DPW, under which probationary employees will start at an annual salary of $29,620 and employees with 16 or more years of employment will receive an annual salary of $50,614.60.