Management for Howard Center in Burlington has approved a two-year contract with the union that represents 723 of its more than 1,500 workers.
The contract with Local 1674 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will give workers a minimum 2 percent pay increase in the first year, with an average 5 percent pay increase across all positions.
“We recognize that in some staff positions we are far less competitive than in others, so we have agreed with the bargaining unit to work on targeting those areas,” said Bob Bick, the CEO of Howard Center.
In the second year of the contract, workers will see a minimum 1.5 percent pay increase, and the workers will also be eligible for step increases.
Howard Center is a nonprofit organization that serves as Vermont’s designated agency for mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability services in Chittenden County.
The state recertified Howard Center as a designated agency earlier this month. State officials say the organization offers high-quality services that engage families and promote diversity.
Bick said the organization gives all employees, whether they’re in the union or not, seven weeks of combined time off and pays 83 percent of health insurance costs.
“We were very pleased to be able to make that happen, especially given the significant ambiguity that exists in the whole health care environment right now,” he said.
Bick also said management would “continue to advocate for improved funding support … to address compensation for our employees.”
