By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.
Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy announced on Tuesday that the city and the Lynn Police Association have reached an agreement on a proposed contract that would be retroactive to 2014 and provide more than $3million in wage increases for police officers through the end of the deal in 2018.
“The new contract provides modest raises to the employees, while allowing the city to remain fiscally responsible with its budgeting,” said Mayor Kennedy in a statement.
According to the Mayor’s office, the agreement provides retroactive increases of 1-percent for 2014, two-percent increases for 2015, 2016 and 2017 and a 1-percent increase for 2018.
The agreement with the police union is the first big contract negotiation to reach a conclusion and could be used as a framework for deals other unions seeking new contracts, including the Lynn Fire union and City Hall employees union.
Mayor Kennedy has pledged to hold the line on new employee hiring and other employee related spending, until the contracts are settled. That includes the hiring of a new Deputy Election Commissioner, which was approved by the City Council in the budget. Though City Clerk Mary Audley has indicated the need for the new position with the upcoming Presidential election season, the post remains unfilled.
Chief Financial Officer Peter Caron said the first four years of the deal will cost the city $2.1 million, but said he had not worked out what the final year of the contract will cost.