Local 888 Department of Public Works members in Ashburnham kicked off the new year by unanimously ratifying a new contract. The 3-year agreement includes retroactive pay back to the old agreement's expiration last July.

“A big plus” to the contract is that DPW workers can now rely on getting step raises, said Stephen Pickard, chapter chair. “And getting our general wage increases squared away was, of course, important, too.”

The wage scales have been readjusted so that members averaged raises just under 3 percent for the first year, with 2 percent increases in years two and three. Members also got a $200 signing bonus and the addition of a fifth step for $1 at 10 years, which adds about another 5 percent for members who had capped out on step increases.

Also increased: the weekly “on call” rate from $275 to $300 in the first year of the contract, $325 in the second and $350 the third year.