Three Derry unions at impasse in contract talks

By Courtney Paquette , Staff Writer
Eagle-Tribune

DERRY - Contract negotiations between the town and three of its six unions are deadlocked, the human resources director confirmed last week.

Contracts for all town employees - 250 of the town's 257 employees are unionized - expired on July 1. At that time, town officials were optimistic that the contracts would be resolved soon because none of the unions had declared an impasse.

The three unions that have declared an impasse represent public works employees, administrative workers and those who work as supervisors.

The police union also declared negotiations at an impasse in March, but has since returned to the bargaining table.

Presidents of the public works, administrative workers and supervisors unions declined to comment on why the negotiations remain deadlocked.

Human Resources Director Larry Budreau, who is negotiating the new contracts on behalf of the town, also refused comment.

"The town would certainly prefer to have successful agreements negotiated," he said.

Budreau wouldn't say how much, or even if, there is any money in the budget approved by the Town Council in May. But he did say that this fiscal year, the council adopted a $24.7 million budget for personnel, compared with $23.8 million last year.

Without new contracts, employees will continue to work under the terms of the contracts that expired in July. As a result, any increased costs in health insurance or other areas will be borne by the town instead of the employees. Employees will work without any salary or benefit increases.

None of the unions has a strike provision in its contract, so members would be breaking the law if they decided to walk off the job.

The next step in the process is for a mediator to be assigned to each of the unions to try to get them back to the bargaining table, Budreau said.

What unions declared an impasse?

AFSCME Support Group, administrative workers - 33 members

AFSCME Public Works, Ernie Gibbs - number of members not known

Professional Administrative and Technical Employees, supervisors in various departments - about 20