City of Burlington reaches contract agreement with unions

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Unions in Burlington have settled contracts with the city, including firefighters and police.

According to Mayor Miro Weinberger, the Burlington Fire Fighters Association (BFFA) just signed a new, three-year contract with the city.

Contracts were also reached with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Burlington Police Officers’ Association (BPOA); and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

Weinberger says in each of the negotiations, they took the biggest employment challenges head-on, including rising health care and pension costs.

He says this was their most challenging bargaining round yet, as it took place during a time of great economic uncertainty and high inflation.

Weinberger says Burlington is the first town or city in Vermont to support its employees with paid family leave.

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