MARLBORO — New contracts between Marlboro and four employee unions should provide for less paid time off and a reduction in benefits, according to municipal documents.
The Township Council recently approved memorandums of agreement with the police dispatchers and clerical workers of Communications Workers of America Local 1075; the white-collar unit of Local 1075; the captains of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 15; and the Marlboro Public Works Supervisors Association.
“The agreements result in increases at or below 2 percent and are a benefit to the residents and fair to the hardworking employees of Marlboro,” Mayor Jonathan Hornik said.
Employee representatives cooperated with municipal officials in the township’s attempt to reduce the number of paid holidays and vacation, personal and sick days that are offered to most staff members, Hornik said.
Longevity payments, which are allotted to individuals who have worked for the township for a certain amount of time, were also diminished or, in some cases, abolished, he said.
Marlboro has operated on a four-day furlough schedule for several years, with municipal offices closed on Friday. The new contracts allow for the dispersal of scheduled hours so that additional municipal operations can occur on Friday, Hornik said.
“With a reduced workforce, approximately 12.5 percent smaller than when I was first elected in 2007, we have still been able to increase the availability of employees to the residents, and this contract further establishes flexible hours and extended work schedules while substantially reducing labor costs over the long term,” the mayor said.
The agreement with police dispatchers and clerical workers retroactively extends from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2015. It provides for a $750 salary increase in 2012, a 1.5 percent increase in 2013 and a 1.95 percent increase in 2014 and 2015, according to the document.
The contract also tightens vacation day rules for incoming employees. They will only be permitted to carry 50 percent of unused vacation days from one year to the next, and will forfeit those not used the next year.
Current employees will have four personal days per year, while new employees will receive three personal days.
Part-time and full-time employees will only be able to cash out 25 percent of their unused sick days at the end of their employment, according to the document. The cap to be paid by Marlboro will remain in place at $15,000.
Part-time employees will not be eligible for life insurance, bereavement leave or injury leave, and they may only access health insurance if they work at least 30 hours a week.
Marlboro’s pact with the white-collar unit runs retroactively through the same time period and includes the same salary increases. Vacation, personal and sick days will follow the same guidelines, too.
New hires for the white-collar, dispatcher and police clerical units will not receive longevity payments.
Birthdays, President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and Election Day in a presidential election year will no longer be paid holidays for township employees.
Municipal officials may extend all parties’ work week or re-arrange schedules under the contracts. Standard hours of operation will now run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, instead of from 8:30 a.m., according to the township.
The agreement with the Marlboro Public Works Supervisors Association is retroactive from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2016. It allows management to alter the work week five days in advance.
Current supervisors will receive a $500 increase to the salary base and a $500 flat payment for 2012. Effective Oct. 1, 2013, they will receive a 1.5 percent salary increase, and 1.9 percent increases each July through 2016, according to the document.
Those individuals will receive longevity payments, but future supervisors will not.
Vacation allowances were also tightened for current and incoming employees, according to the documents. New supervisors will receive fewer personal days.
Current employees will still be able to cash out 50 percent of their unused sick days at the end of their employment, for a maximum of $25,000, according to the township, but that provision will be eliminated entirely for new promotions and hires.
The police captains will not be able to take on additional overtime if they have already acquired 120 hours until that number drops through attrition, according to the agreement, which is effective through Dec. 31, 2016.
The captains will receive a 1.5 percent salary increase in 2013 and another 1.5 percent increase in 2014, according to the document.
Contact Jack Murtha at jmurtha@gmnews.com.