Township, Union Agree on New Contract

Brick officials and the Transport Workers Union have reached an agreement on a new contract.

The TWU's Local 225, Branch 4 represents employees in many township departments, including Public Works. The union had been in negotiations with township officials.

Under the new employment pact, the number of steps for current employees will go from eight to 12, effectively lengthening the time it will take for workers to reach their highest possible salaries.

The new agreement also changes township EMTs to a three day per week, 12 hour shift schedule.

The most significant change in the contract, however, comes for employees who began work in the township after Sept. 1, 2012. Those employees will not have contracted step wage increases, and will instead receive annual cost of living adjustments.

Over an employee's 25 year career, the move will save taxpayers $267,000, said Business Administrator Scott Pezarras.

"Both the union representatives and the administration worked very hard on this memorandum of agreement," said Council President John Ducey, before the council members unanimously approved the new contract and an accompanying salary ordinance.

The new agreement will run through 2015. It contains annual 2 percent raises, until the final year of the contract, which includes a 1.9 percent raise. The first 2 percent raise will be retroactive from the beginning of the 2012 calendar year.