Mayor Ballantyne Delivers Landmark Contract Tackling Wage Bias and Boosting Pay for SMEA (now SMEU) Unit B
14%-17% average salary increases informed by Mayor’s push to eliminate wage bias
“This contract takes on so much more than inflation. We sent an arrow right at the heart of long-standing bias—that's gender bias, class bias, and educational bias that is pervasive in our society. And we took a hard look at benefits that needed updating as well for these critical workers,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “Throughout the bargaining process both the City and the Union acted in good faith, and I would like to thank the SMEU leadership for partnering with us to go beyond the usual adjustments to create long-term equity for our employees. I’m honored and proud to be part of a process that once again has Somerville leading the way.”
SMEU Union President Ed Halloran stated that, “as a 32-year veteran working for the City’s DPW, this may be the best contract the members of this union have ever received and it’s a tribute to the members of the bargaining committee, union officers, and the members who have worked on the job in person through COVID, as well as an administration and union that together bargained in good faith.”
