WEST WINDSOR: Township Council approves pay increases for union workers

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — About 75 members of the Communications Workers of America Local 1032 union are in line for pay increases that average 1.8 percent over the life of the three-year contract, which has been approved by Township Council.
The blue collar and white collar workers will receive a pay hike of 1.65 percent, retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year, and pay increases of 1.8 percent for 2017 and 1.95 percent for 2018. The contract covers 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The contract also increases the boot allowance for Department of Public Works employees from $130 to $160. Employees will receive uniforms, including shirts, pants, jackets, coats and T-shirts for summer use. They will also receive rain gear, plus winter and summer coveralls, as needed.
The Animal Control Officer, the custodian, and the building, electrical and plumbing inspectors, as well as the environmental health specialists, landscape architect and assistant assessor will receive a winter jacket and a spring jacket, plus boots.
Although a salary ordinance has not been adopted to reflect the new wages, the custodian and laborers earned between $30,589 and $46,537 under the salary ordinance that covered the expiring CWA Local 1032 contract.
The Animal Control Officer and the lowest level secretaries and clerks earned between $32,900 and $49,203 under the old contract. Secretaries and clerks in the next level earned between $35,132 and $52,553, while those in the highest level were paid between $37,440 and $54,443.
Under the expiring contract, the sanitary inspector was paid between $37,440 and $54,443, and the deputy Municipal Court administrator earned between $39,686 and $58,650. The building, electrical and plumbing inspectors, as well as the landscape architect, were paid between $61,826 and $84,443.
Depending on the level, equipment operators earned between $32,900 and $49,203; $35,132 and $52,553, and $39,686 and $58,650. The lead mechanic was paid between $41,963 and $60,552, under the expiring contract. 