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One Union Deal Reached

By Jeffrey B. Cohen

June 16, 2009

The city has reached a tentative agreement with its 47 professional and technical unionized workers, but is still in talks with at least for other unions, a union spokesman said today.

"We have a tentative agreement for a three-year contract," said Matt O'Connor, spokesman for the City of Hartford Professional Employees Association, or CHPEA. His union -- CSEA SEIU Local 2001 -- will now get copies of the terms out to its members for their review.

Talks with at least four other unions - including police - are ongoing, O'Connor said.

Sarah Barr, spokeswoman for Mayor Eddie A. Perez, declined to comment because "these are sensitive negotiations."

The city's budget for last year includes a $3.2 million cut in salaries in benefits from the mayor's proposed budget. The city is negotiating with its various unions to find those savings in concessions in hopes of avoiding layoffs.