Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 10 a.m. (Boston time), Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201
Hearing on Dockets #1829-1838
The Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Councilor Benjamin Jacob Weber, held a hearing on ten dockets (1829 through 1838) that would move approximately $517,000 from the fiscal year 27 collective bargaining reserve to the Boston Public Schools to fund new contracts for school police patrolmen, school police superior officers, SEIU Local 888 planning and engineering staff, plant administrators, and storekeepers and delivery workers. City Budget Director John Williamson and BPS labor relations director Jeremiah Hanson described the agreements as including 2% base wage increases and flat-dollar additions to annual salaries, and said all had been ratified by the unions and the School Committee. Councilors asked about the impact of the Office of the Inspector General report on BPS, the number of employees covered, school safety staffing (four current patrol vacancies), the status of paraprofessionals cut from the budget, and an unsigned memorandum of understanding between the Boston Police Department and BPS. Councilor Flynn requested a copy of the unsigned MOU before the vote, and one member of the public testified on behalf of the Boston Policy Institute. No vote was taken in committee; the chair said the plan was to bring the matters up for a vote at the next day's council meeting.
3:37 in the district six city
3:38 councilor and the chair of the
3:39 boston city council on ways and
3:40 means.
3:42 Today's OCTOBER 6th, 2026.
3:45 Exact time is 10:03 A.M..
3:47 Uh in accordance with chapter
3:49 two of the acts of 2025
3:50 modifying certain requirements
3:52 of the open meeting law and
3:53 relieving public bodies
3:54 of certain requirements
3:56 including the requirements that
3:58 public bodies conduct their
3:59 meetings in a public place
4:01 that's open and physically
4:02 accessible to the public.
4:04 The city council will be
4:05 conducting this hearing
4:05 virtually via zoom.
4:07 This hearing is being recorded.
4:09 It's also being live streamed
4:14 at boston council dash uh
4:14 sorry boston.Gov/city
4:17 council dash tv and broadcast
4:19 on xfinity channel e rcn
4:21 channel 82 and file channel 964
4:22 .
4:24 Uh written comments MAY be sent
4:28 to the committee email at
4:29 squirm@boston.Gov.
4:30 It will be made a part of the
4:32 record and available to all
4:33 councilors.
4:35 Public testimony will be taken
4:36 at the end of this hearing.
4:38 Individuals will be called on
4:39 the order in which they signed
4:39 up.
4:41 They will have two minutes to
4:42 testify.
4:44 If you wish to sign up for
4:45 public testimony and have not
4:47 done so, please email our
4:48 central staff liaison chris
4:55 mature on that car is marco u h
4:57 a n@boston.Gov for the zoom
4:58 link and your name will be
4:59 added to the list.
5:03 uh this hearing um is about
5:04 funding the new contract
5:05 increases for several groups
5:07 of boston public school
5:07 employees.
5:10 The unions represent school
5:11 police officers, superior
5:13 office and superior officers,
5:15 planning and engineering
5:17 professionals, plan
5:19 administrators and school
5:20 storekeepers and delivery
5:20 workers.
5:24 The city's asked to move uh,
5:27 approximately $517,000 from the
5:28 collective bargaining reserve
5:29 so the district can cover the
5:31 raises and salary increases
5:33 agreed to in the contract for
5:34 fiscal year 27.
5:35 There's ten dockets.
5:38 I'll now read those into the
5:38 record.
5:41 Uh, just give me a second here.
5:46 Okay.
5:49 Docket number 1829 message in
5:51 order to reduce the fiscal year
5:53 27 appropriation for the
5:54 reserve for collective
6:00 bargaining by $268,887 uh, to
6:02 provide funding for the boston
6:03 public schools for the fiscal
6:06 year 27 increases contained
6:07 within the collective
6:08 bargaining agreement between
6:10 the boston school committee and
6:12 the boston school police
6:15 patrolmen's association docket
6:17 number 1830 message in order
6:19 for a supplemental
6:21 appropriation order uh for the
6:22 boston public schools
6:24 department for fiscal year 27,
6:29 in the amount of $286,887 to
6:31 cover the fiscal year 27 cost
6:33 items contained within the
6:34 collective bargaining agreement
6:35 between the boston school
6:38 committee and the boston school
6:39 police patrolmen's association
6:40 .
6:42 The terms of the contract are
6:44 SEPTEMBER 1st, 2026 through
6:46 AUGUST 31st, 2027.
6:48 The major provisions of the
6:49 contract include a base wage
6:53 increase of 2% in OCTOBER of
6:56 24, 25 and 26 and a flat dollar
7:00 amount increase of $250, $900
7:03 and $800 to be added to annual
7:06 salaries in JANUARY of 2025,
7:09 2026 and 2027 respectively.
7:12 Docket number 1831 message in
7:15 order to reduce the fiscal year
7:16 27 appropriation for the
7:18 reserve uh for collective
7:26 bargaining by $111,802 uh to to
7:27 provide funding for the
7:29 boston's public schools for the
7:32 fiscal year 27 increases
7:33 contained within the collective
7:34 bargaining agreement between
7:35 the boston school committee and
7:37 the boston school police
7:39 superior officers federation
7:42 docket number 1832 message in
7:44 order for the supplemental
7:45 appropriation for the boston
7:46 public schools department for
7:51 fiscal year 27, in the amount
7:53 of $111,802 to cover the fiscal
7:55 year 27 cost items contained
7:56 within the collective
7:58 bargaining agreement between
7:59 the boston school committee and
8:02 the boston boston school police
8:04 superior officers federation.
8:06 The terms in the contract are
8:10 JULY 1st, 2024 through JUNE
8:10 30th 2027.
8:12 The major provision of the
8:14 contract include a base wage
8:17 increase of 2% in OCTOBER of
8:21 2024, 2025 and 2026 and a flat
8:23 dollar amount increase of $250
8:27 ,$900 and $800 to be added to
8:28 annual salaries of the JANUARY
8:32 in JANUARY of 2025, 2026 and
8:34 2027 respectively.
8:37 Docket number 1833 message in
8:40 order to reduce the fiscal year
8:42 27 appropriation for the
8:43 reserve for collective
8:49 bargaining by 800 uh sorry by
8:51 $85,879 to provide funding for
8:52 the boston public schools for
8:55 the fiscal year 27 increases
8:56 contained within the collective
8:58 bargaining agreement between
9:00 the boston school committee and
9:02 seiu local 888 professional
9:04 employees chapter, department
9:06 of planning and engineering
9:10 docket number 1834 uh message
9:11 in order for the supplemental
9:13 appropriation order for the
9:14 boston public schools
9:16 department for fiscal year 27,
9:20 in the amount of $85,879 to
9:23 cover the fy 27 cost items
9:24 contained within the collective
9:25 bargaining agreement between
9:27 the boston school committee and
9:30 seiu local 88 professional
9:31 employees chapter two
9:32 department of planning and
9:32 engineering.
9:35 The terms of the contract are
9:40 OCTOBER 31st 2027.
9:40 SEPTEMBER 1st, 2026 through
9:41 The major provision for that
9:43 contract include a base wage
9:46 increase of 2% in SEPTEMBER
9:48 of 26 and a flat dollar amount
9:50 of $800 added to annual
9:53 salaries in JANUARY of 20 2027
9:56 docket number 1835 message in
9:58 order to reduce the fy 27
10:00 appropriation for the reserve
10:04 for collective bargaining by
10:06 $40,365 to provide funding for
10:07 the boston public schools for
10:11 the fy 27 increases contained
10:11 within the collective
10:12 bargaining agreement between
10:14 the boston school committee and
10:16 boston school department plant
10:18 administrators association dug
10:21 a number 1836 message in order
10:22 for a supplemental
10:24 appropriation order for the
10:25 boston public schools
10:27 department for fy 27, in the
10:31 amount of $40,365 to cover the
10:34 fy 27 cost items contained
10:35 within the collective
10:36 bargaining agreement between
10:38 the boston school committee and
10:39 the boston school department
10:41 plant administrators
10:41 association.
10:44 The terms of the contract are
10:46 SEPTEMBER 1st, 2026 through
10:48 OCTOBER 31st, 2027.
10:50 The major provisions of the
10:52 contract include a base wage
10:54 increase of 2% in SEPTEMBER
10:56 of 20 2026 and a flat dollar
10:58 amount of $800 to be added to
11:02 of 2027.
11:02 annual salaries in JANUARY
11:06 Docket number 18 uh 37 message
11:09 in order to reduce the fy 27
11:10 appropriation for the reserve
11:14 for collective bargaining by
11:16 $10,320 uh, to provide funding
11:18 for the boston public schools
11:20 for the fy 27 increases
11:21 contained within the collective
11:23 bargaining agreement between
11:25 the boston school committee and
11:30 afl council 39 local 281 for
11:32 storekeepers and stores
11:34 delivery men union and finally
11:37 uh docket number 1838 message
11:38 in order for a supplemental
11:40 appropriation order for the
11:41 boston public schools
11:43 department for fy 27, in the
11:47 amount of $10,320 to cover the
11:49 fy 27 cost items contained
11:50 within the collective
11:52 bargaining agreement between
11:55 the boston school committee and
12:00 afl-cio council 93 local 2814
12:01 storekeepers and stores
12:02 delivery men's union.
12:04 The terms of the contract are
12:09 SEPTEMBER 1st, 2026 through
12:09 AUGUST 31st 2027.
12:11 the major provisions of the
12:12 contract include a base wage
12:15 increase of 2% in SEPTEMBER
12:17 of 2026 and a flat dollar
12:19 amount of $800 to be added to
12:22 annual salaries in JANUARY
12:22 2027.
12:24 These matters were we're
12:26 sponsored by the mayor michelle
12:28 wu and referred to the
12:30 committee on SEPTEMBER 30th
12:32 2026 we'll be discussing the
12:34 contracts related to plant
12:35 administrators, association
12:37 planning and engineering and
12:39 storekeepers uh first and also
12:43 the script says uh uh uh today
12:44 I'm joined by my uh colleagues
12:46 in order of arrival
12:47 councilor murphy,
12:49 councilor flynn,
12:50 councilor louijeune and then
12:50 councilor fitzgerald.
12:55 Um, we're joined by a panel uh
12:57 ,with uh we've got uh, budget
13:00 director jim williamson, uh,
13:01 director for the office
13:02 of labor relations for boston
13:02 public schools.
13:05 Uh, jeremiah jeremiah has some
13:08 uh we've got uh, chief
13:09 executive director for the
13:11 office of safety services from
13:12 boston public schools.
13:15 Uh, israel is raul raul.
13:16 Sorry, izzy uh marrero.
13:19 Um, and chief operating officer
13:20 for the boston public schools
13:21 brian ford.
13:24 Uh, uh, brian has a hard stop
13:25 at 1130.
13:28 So if people have questions for
13:30 brian, uh, what?
13:32 You know, please, uh, up front
13:35 and if you have a called on you
13:37 and do so if you have questions
13:38 for brian before he leaves, let
13:40 me know and I can call my
13:40 colleagues out of order.
13:42 Um, let's see here.
13:48 uh, so, um, I kind of pass this
13:49 off to our panelists.
13:53 Um, you have the floor I don't
13:56 know, uh uh, director williams
13:58 and I'll I'll start with you
14:00 and you can password for you on
14:01 it.
14:02 Well, thank you so much.
14:04 Uh, chair weber and other
14:05 members of the boston city
14:05 council.
14:07 Uh, as you said, my name is
14:07 john williamson.
14:09 I'm the budget director here
14:10 for the city of boston.
14:12 Um, myself and my colleagues
14:14 from the boston public schools
14:15 appreciate this opportunity to
14:16 provide information about these
14:19 new contracts, um, in their
14:20 applications for the city's
14:20 budget.
14:24 Uh, I'm here to address the ten
14:26 appropriation orders before you
14:27 and the impact to the budget
14:29 and to make a formal request
14:31 of the committee, uh, to, uh,
14:33 report it out and have approved
14:35 council meeting.
14:35 at the next uh, city
14:38 Uh, I'm also you know, I'm
14:40 joined by jeremiah hanson from
14:43 uh, his office of labor to um,
14:45 answer questions about the
14:47 contract and other operational
14:47 staff.
14:49 Uh, um is he here?
14:52 Um and, um, brian forward to
14:54 ask about operational um, uh,
14:56 activities for those staff
14:58 cover buttons unions um, you
15:00 know and as you remember, the
15:01 uh, 427 budget finalized in
15:04 JUNE included the 2020 $22
15:06 million um uh collective
15:09 parking reserve an aggregate uh
15:10 use uh the city council has
15:13 approved uh two previous cbas
15:16 uh in this fiscal year um for
15:18 $3.3 million and the total for
15:21 these ten uh for these five um
15:25 units, um, um, across um in the
15:28 ten appropriation orders is uh
15:29 $517,000.
15:31 Um, so with that, uh, I will I
15:33 don't know if uh, jeremiah or
15:35 others want to say anything
15:36 before we start the hearing.
15:40 Just to thanks jim and chair
15:41 weber and councilors, thank you
15:42 for having us today.
15:44 Uh, just to provide a little
15:46 bit of context for these first
15:47 three contracts we're focusing
15:48 on.
15:50 Uh, they are very
15:51 straightforward one year
15:53 agreement, uh, following what
15:55 we've seen of the 15 uh, wage
15:57 pattern for collective
15:59 bargaining agreements and for
16:00 the often collective bargaining
16:01 agreements to make uh, to my
16:02 knowledge city side.
16:06 Um, so 2% increase, uh, general
16:10 wage increases plus the $800 in
16:12 that is spread evenly across
16:13 the employees paychecks, uh,
16:15 and will be added to that base
16:16 wages moving forward.
16:18 Um, so again, really
16:20 straightforward uh, if I want
16:22 to take my time to uh, thank
16:24 the bargaining team for these
16:26 unions, uh, that were able to
16:28 work collaboratively with us to
16:31 get uh, agreements done in a
16:32 fairly quick and efficient
16:32 manner.
16:37 So, uh, with that and just so
16:39 we're all clear the, uh, that
16:40 they were agreed to by the
16:43 unions, uh, ratified by the
16:45 membership and they have uh all
16:46 of these agreements have been
16:47 ratified by the school
16:48 committee as well.
16:51 So with that, if you have any
16:52 questions for us, happy to
16:53 answer.
16:56 okay.
16:58 uh, thank you very much.
17:00 Um, sorry.
17:02 Uh let's see uh, we've been
17:04 joined also by
17:04 councilor culpeper.
17:10 Um uh, so I I'd like to hand it
17:12 off to my colleagues for
17:12 questions.
17:15 Uh, I'm just um.
17:17 Okay.
17:19 And we're joined by
17:19 councilor earl.
17:22 Um, yeah, I guess it's okay.
17:24 Councilor murphy.
17:26 Uh, let's.
17:30 Let's do, uh, five minutes and
17:31 then, uh, if you have a second
17:33 back.
17:33 round of questions, we'll come
17:43 Councilor murphy.
17:53 Okay.
17:53 uh.
17:59 councilor.
17:59 Uh, flynn.
18:01 Thank you, mr CHAIRMAN.
18:05 Mr chair, before I begin, um,
18:06 did we invite any.
18:09 Of the union leadership.
18:13 To attend and maybe give their
18:14 their opinion, their side
18:16 of the negotiation?
18:17 These are collective
18:17 bargaining.
18:19 Did we give them the
18:20 opportunity to be here?
18:23 Uh, I mean, I think the usual
18:25 procedure is we don't invite
18:27 the, you know, unions on
18:30 increases in cbas where they've
18:30 been negotiated.
18:31 I understand we've had this
18:34 discussion about the detectives
18:35 union.
18:35 Uh.
18:37 I'm asking about today,
18:37 mr chair.
18:38 Today today just.
18:40 A simple question, mr chair.
18:41 Well, okay.
18:43 the simple correct answer is no
18:44 ,not invited.
18:45 Okay.
18:48 um my recommendation I do
18:49 like to hear from both sides.
18:51 Um, especially on a union
18:51 contract.
18:53 I do think it's important to
18:56 hear from, uh, people on the
18:57 other side of the contract that
18:59 are negotiating in good faith
19:01 because it's negotiated in good
19:03 faith between the union and
19:05 that's that's the only reason
19:07 I'm, um, respectfully asking
19:08 that question, mr chair.
19:10 It's a respectful question and
19:12 ,uh, so not invited.
19:14 Why don't you go forward with
19:15 your five minutes?
19:16 Let me talk to charisma kind
19:19 of offline and, uh, see if we
19:20 can bring anyone in.
19:21 I mean, I you know, they did
19:23 want us to vote on this last
19:25 week I I said no, we should
19:28 have a hearing on this, uh, to
19:29 allow my colleagues to answer
19:30 these questions.
19:31 I started your time,
19:32 councilor friends, but.
19:33 But that's okay.
19:33 That's uh.