The town’s municipal employees union is seeking comparable raises to those recently won by teachers, potentially adding millions to an already looming override-ask as contract negotiations remain deadlocked since July.
“We are looking for a similar overall increase including but not limited to COLA raises, wage schedule changes,” said Terri Tauro, president of the Marblehead Municipal Employees Union (MMEU). “Most MMEU members are paid in the 35th percentile in the state and need some catching up.”
The teachers contract provides 2-3.5% annual increases over four years, with additional step increases for senior staff.
“We are trying to upgrade senior staff to make as much as new hires,” said Tauro. “Some upgrades for existing employees have been initiated by (Water and Sewer superintendent) Amy McHugh but in general, new hires are making more than long term employees.”
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said funding just the teacher contract will strain town finances. Kezer estimates the teachers contract alone will require a $3.2 million override.
“That just takes care of the school contracts,” he said. “And just speaking hypothetically, [suppose] I just say we need another million [for municipal contracts]. So now that’s a $4.2 million override. What are the chances of that passing?”
Tauro pushes back on that argument.
“My union has only 100 members with a lower average salary than the teachers,” said Tauro. “[The town] could give us a 4% COLA at about $220,000 per year and police and fire together for about the same amount.”
The negotiations have grown increasingly contentious, with the union filing prohibited practice charges with the state Department of Labor Relations in September. The complaint alleges the town implemented new workplace policies without bargaining and has failed to provide requested financial analyses of union proposals.
“The most concerning changes are to the employee conduct and discipline,” said Tauro.
A recent grievance highlighting pay disparities added fuel to the tension. Engineering clerk Lisa Lyons won a grade increase and back pay after challenging the town’s decision to hire an external candidate at a higher rate.
“At least a dozen are paid less than the new hire … we fought the fact that she was refused a position she was more than qualified for,” said Tauro. “We are trying to upgrade senior staff to make as much as new hires.”
Meanwhile, negotiations with the police union also remain unresolved since contracts expired in June. Unlike the municipal employees who are in mediation, police talks are still in direct negotiations.
“You go from negotiations to mediation to fact finding to implementation,” Kezer explained. “That’s when mediation fails. You go to fact finding.”
Kezer faces mounting pressure as he develops next year’s budget amid the uncertainty.
“What I try to do at the State of the Town is figure out — here’s the bottom line, with no override. That’s what we have to build our budgets on,” he said. “And then we have what we call level services, not level funding level services. What would it cost just to maintain the way we’re doing business? And that determines how much we need in an override.”
For municipal workers who maintain everything from streets to cemeteries, the stakes are high as they seek wage equity with both teachers and new hires.
“I understand how important the schools are but so are we,” Tauro said. “My union members take care of most of the town’s infrastructure. We help protect its most vulnerable residents at the COA and Parks and Rec. We manage the beautiful Marblehead Harbor and the Abbot Library.”
The next mediation session between the town and municipal employees union is scheduled for next week. The police contract negotiations are ongoing, though specific details of those talks were not disclosed.
Kezer and others argue town officials must balance maintaining competitive wages while considering taxpayers’ appetite for potentially substantial override requests. Kezer and Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin said the State of the Town address in late January or early February is expected to provide more clarity on override amounts and timing.
