Boston council panel reviews $7.2 million in police, public health union contracts

BOSTON — November 24, 2025 — Boston City Council's Ways and Means Committee heard details Monday of a $7.2 million package of supplemental appropriations to fund new union contracts with the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association and SEIU Local 888 at the Boston Public Health Commission. Committee Chair Brian Worrell, flanked by Councillors John FitzGerald, Benjamin J. Weber, and Vice Chair Enrique J. Pepén, said he plans to bring the four dockets to a full council vote at the next meeting. The BPPA deal — a one-year contract covering FY26 at a cost of $6,733,196 — includes a 2 percent base wage increase, a 1 percent hazardous duty differential bump, a new name-tag requirement, and expanded sick-time sellback from 200 to 250 days at 40 percent. Lou Mandarini, senior labor advisor to Mayor Michelle Wu, called it "a one-year agreement to catch our breath," with the city aiming to complete a longer-term deal before the contract expires June 30, 2026. The remaining $506,452 funds an SEIU Local 888 agreement that reclassifies the lowest-paid Public Health Commission workers and adds an employer-funded legal services plan. With these approvals, the city would have committed $65.8 million of its $102.7 million FY26 collective bargaining reserve.