Mr. Cardinale opposed the addition of automatic annual step increases and the elimination of merit raises. The step increases give additional pay raises to employees for each year of employment. This marks the second attempt at settling the contract this year. The 150-member CSEA represents most town employees other than police, department heads, elected officials and confidential appointees. Its last contract expired on Dec. 31, 2000.
Employees also make more money through step increases, according to the contract.
I want to thank the employees for their patience. The town has been losing a lot of employees to other municipalities and private industry, he added. All Rights Reserved.