Why do we not freeze employee salaries instead of giving them annual increases in pay?
We are bound by law to collectively bargain with our unionized employees. Within the framework of the collective bargaining laws of the State of Connecticut that govern the manner in which negotiations are conducted with teachers, building administrators, custodians, maintenance personnel, secretaries, paraprofessionals, and nurses, the final terms of agreements are most often required to be consistent with contractual settlements made in neighboring school systems as determined by mediators and arbitrators appointed by the State. Without a state legislative freeze on employee pay increases and/or the freezing of wages in our neighboring school systems, there exists no opportunity to freeze the wages of our employees in Westport under existing law.
