IFPTE Newark Council 21 Reaches Contract Agreement

IFPTE Newark Council 21 reached an agreement with the City of Newark for its’ 900-plus members, employed by the city, after 3 years of contract negotiations.

Negotiations, initially began in August 2019, were halted for a period during the pandemic, and resumed in August 2020. The Union and the City bargained heavily and attempted to reach an agreement, but were at an impasse in February 2022. Mediation followed and a settlement was eventually reached outside of the mediation process in September 2022.

Council 21 members overwhelmingly ratified the agreement on October 24, 2022 and the Newark City Council finally approved it on November 14, 2022.

The Local union president, Sean Small, stated the following: “This has been a long and grueling process, but we got through it. Our members deserve a fair and decent contract and we will continue to fight for them. They are the real face of the city, handling its day-to-day operations, which enables the city to run efficiently. Newark Council 21 will continue to be a voice and an advocate on their behalf. Now that this deal is done, it’s time to get back to the table to negotiate an even better one.”

The contract expires December 31, 2022.