By Chris Frost
EAGLE TIMES NEWS EDITOR
CLAREMONT, N.H. — The Claremont City Council unanimously approved raises for its clerical union this week.
The memorandum of understanding, was moved by Assistant Mayor Deborah Matteau and seconded by Councilor Andrew O’Hearn.
Human Resources Director Jamie Young said the clerical union contract isn’t due for negotiation until June 2025, but was brought forward anyway to ensure a consistent 4 percent pay increase citywide. Without the agreement, clerical employees would have received raises of 1 percent this fiscal year and 1.5 percent in the next fiscal year.
The move will cost the city $68,869 in FY 2024 and $50,117 in FY 2025, totaling $118,986.
“Due to difficulties hiring and replacing current open clerical and inspection positions, we offered to simplify and increase the hiring scale for new clerical union employees to reflect the current hiring market,” she said.
She said the changes will allow the city to hire new employees at an increased rate without impacting the current budget.
“This would be beneficial to the city,” said Young in presenting the changes to the city.
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