By David Harry

Staff Writer

For the second time in two months, a union of municipal workers has swapped a pay increase for job security.

At its meeting May 19, councilors voted 6-0, with Councilor Ron Ahlquist absent, to amend the current contract with emergency dispatchers and approve new contracts with dispatchers and firefighters.

The contract agreements present current savings for the town and job security for dispatchers while recognizing the current economy, said Town Manager Tom Hall and Lt. Mark Stults, president of Scarborough Professional Firefighters Association.

Hall said the agreement with eight dispatchers represented by the association is almost identical to one reached last month between the town and members of the Scarborough Benevolent Police Association.

Dispatchers last year deferred a 3 percent increase until June 30 this year and were due a 3 percent increase for fiscal year 2011. The sidebar agreement exchanges a no-layoff clause for the increase due in 2011.

In extending the no-layoff clause, Hall said he knew he needed to offer something to dispatchers who were not required to reopen the agreement that expires June 30, 2011.

The fiscal year 2011 raise will be paid as part of a one-year labor contract for 2011-2012, Hall said.

“The whole idea is we are trying to work with the town and know times are tough,” Stults said.

Hall said trying to reach agreement on a three-year contract with dispatchers or firefighters would have been difficult.

“A three-year contract is pretty typical, but given the uncertainty we are in, none of us can predict what is coming,” Hall said.

The one-year contract for 16 firefighters and emergency workers takes effect July 1 and expires June 30, 2011. Firefighters will receive a 3 percent increase they deferred last year, but will get no pay increase as part of the new contract, although clothing allowances will be increased by $30 to $570 a year.

A memo from Town Human Resources Director Brian Smith to Hall said paying the deferred increases will cost the town $35,700.

Stults said the new firefighters’ contract covers all full-time employees except Chief Michael Thurlow and four deputy chiefs. Most of those covered in the union contract are emergency services workers as the department relies largely on per diem firefighters.

“I am proud of the union, the members are sympathetic to the town and happy to work with them,” Stults said.

Hall, hoping for better times when negotiating the next contract, said his aim is “to attract and maintain the best employees I can.”

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219