West Hartford Police, Dispatchers Ink New Labor Deals

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Two major public safety unions recently inked new pacts with the Town of West Hartford, with local officials unanimously approving both contracts.

In two separate 9-0 votes at the last West Hartford Town Council meeting July 16, Democrats and Republicans approved new labor deals for both West Hartford police officers and local dispatchers.

The first collective bargaining agreement was with the West Hartford chapter of the CSEA, SEIU Local 2001 Public Safety Dispatchers Unit. Dispatchers approved the deal last June 25.

After that approval, council members said "yes" to a new pact with the West Hartford Police Officer's Association, which represents police officers locally. Police approved the pact back on June 13.

Dispatchers deal

According to West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith, the prior contract for dispatchers ran out in 2021 and they've been working without a pact since.

He said the new deal calls for 3 percent wage hikes, retroactively, from July 1, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Then, Ledwith said, the pact calls for a 3 percent hike for 2024 and 2.6 percent hikes for 2025 and 2026.

In addition, the new contract increases employee contributions toward health insurance and lowers the maximum vacation time threshold from 24 years to 21 years, among other changes.

" Our dispatchers ... are the unsung heroes of our emergency response system and I think this contract reflects our commitment to supporting the essential services that our dispatchers provide to our community," Ledwith said.

Council members agreed

"These are our unsung heroes. We hear a lot about our officers and our firefighters," Democratic Councilperson Carol Blanks said.

"But this particular unit, I feel, is so critical because they really do make the difference between life and death in that timing and being able to communicate clearly with others on that end."

Police pact

Meanwhile, Ledwith said the new, four-year labor agreement with the police union calls for a retroactive 3 percent wage hike starting July 1, 2024; 3.25 percent hikes for 2025-26; and a 3.5 percent wage increase for 2027.

In addition, police union members will contribute 2 percent toward medical benefits as opposed to 1.75 percent prior, among other revisions.

According to Ledwith, both parties realized a key issue regarding the new police deal was creating an environment where police officers would want to come to West Hartford and stay.

Ledwith said most municipal departments are currently struggling in finding officers and are looking to hire more.

Agreeing to a contract where that is a goal proved difficult and complicated, officials said.

"On both sides, the focus was on recruiting exceptional police officer candidates and retaining exceptional police officer candidates," Ledwith said.

Council members easily supported the deal.

Council member Ben Wenograd, a Democrat and a member of the committee working with the police union, called the contract "complex" and "very difficult."

He said it was a creative deal and it required give-and-take from both sides.

"I think getting to a fair contract should be a joint goal and I think you achieved it," Wenograd said.

Republican Councilman Mark Zydanowicz supported the deal. "Kudos to this agreement," Zydanowicz said. "I'm happy that we're here and I'll be supporting this as well. Thank you."

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, a Democrat, thanked all who were involved in the police contract negotiations and said it was an example of negotiations where concessions are made.

"Much has been said. It's balanced. It's thoughtful. It's creative," she said. "It's a true success when nobody walks away happy."

"We always do have to look at the future and where this positions us. No contract sits in isolation," Cantor said.

"Law enforcement is one of the toughest jobs that anyone can choose and it's one of the most important jobs," she said.

For the minutes of the July 16 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on his link.