Politics & Government

Will Non-Uniformed City Workers Get New Contracts in 2013?

For the past five years, Hoboken's municipal employees — not police and fire — have been working without a contract. When will negotiations be completed?

One of the issues that will likely come in front of Hoboken's City Council this year will be an agreement between the city and the non-uniformed city workers.

But when?

For the past five years, Hoboken's non-uniform municipal employees have been working for the city without a contract and thus, without raises.

Find out what's happening in Hobokenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fire and police contracts were settled in 2011, after the employees worked without contracts for the three years prior. The city is still paying back pay to fire fighters and police officers.

It's still unclear what the settlement with the municipal workers will be and how much backpay the employees will receive.

Find out what's happening in Hobokenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Business Administrator Quentin Wiest told council members that negotiations are still ongoing.

City officials indicated at Wednesday night's meeting, however, that an agreement might come to fruititon in the first few months of the year.

The city budgeted in a sum of money to potentially start paying out some of the raises and back pay in a temporary budget that was presented to the council on Wednesday night.

The temporary budget needed five votes to pass, which it did not.

Councilman Michael Russo said he was not comfortable putting in a large sum of money into a temporary budget, without being sure when and if those payments will be made.

Councilman David Mello countered that it's "irrational" to not free up extra in case of an agreement with Hoboken's municipal workers.


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