Mayor James J. Fiorentini > Press Release

August 13, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HAVERHILL AND POLICE PATROLMAN’S UNION REACH CONTRACT SETTLEMENT

Mayor James J. Fiorentini today announced that the City has reached agreement on a new contract with the Haverhill Police Patrolman’s Union.

The agreement was signed by the union and the Mayor last week and ratified by Patrolman’s Union at a special meeting held Monday evening.

The agreement will next be submitted to the City Council. The Council does not vote on the agreement itself but must vote on a money transfer in order to pay for it.

Under the terms of the agreement, the police will receive a 6.75% increase over the next 3 years in exchange for changes in the health care plan offered to city employees.

Under those changes, the police will increase the percentage contribution they pay on their health care from 20% to 25% phased in over the next 3 years. The Union also agreed to increase the co-pays and deductibles for some medical visits. For example, the co-pay for a physician’s visit will go from $5 to $15 effective in September.

Mayor Fiorentini called the agreement fair and reasonable to both the taxpayers of the city and to the police:

“This agreement was hard fought and represents a true compromise for all parties working together. Neither party won or lost. The agreement provides a much needed cost of living increase for our fine police officers and sets the City on the right path for the next phase of health-care reforms.

The negotiations were long, difficult and sometimes contentious but both parties stayed at the bargaining table and were ultimately able to reach agreement. ”

Two years ago, Fiorentini signed agreements with all of the unions to increase the percentage they were paying on their health care from 10% to 20%. At that time, he said that the second phase of health-care reforms would be to increase co-pays and deductibles and increase the percentage contribution employees paid from 20% to 25%.

Fiorentini said that these changes in co-pays and deductibles, if other unions adopt the changes, would save the City hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in health care costs.