Newton Employees Who Worked During Pandemic To Receive Stipend

NEWTON, MA — The City of Newton is providing a one-time stipend to permanent employees in the unions that signed agreements with the city and non-union employees who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller.

Those who worked through the most challenging months of the pandemic will receive a stipend of $1,500. Employees who joined the city more recently will receive $500.

"Again, I am so grateful to our employees,” said Fuller in a statement. "During the 22 months of this pandemic, they have been committed and caring, working in person if their job required or pivoting to working from home. They worked long hours under trying circumstances while balancing the needs of their own families with the needs of Newtonians.”

The stipends, which total approximately $1 million, will be funded with Newton’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. The mayor did not specify when eligible employees can expect to receive this bonus.

"I wish I could extend this stipend to all permanent city employees,” said Fuller. "However, the collective bargaining laws do not allow the City to do so for the members of the one union which did not enter into an agreement with the City."

For more information on how Newton is spending APRA funding, click here.