‘It’s time the town cared about us’: Amherst DPW workers cite poor conditions, low pay at public meeting, rally

AMHERST — Citing low wages and high staff turnover, as well as unhealthy work conditions in a leaking, century-old trolley barn, Department of Public Works employees brought a lengthy list of concerns to town leaders Monday night.

Working without a contract since July 1, and in the midst of ongoing mediation, workers came to Town Hall, following an hour-long rally on the adjacent North Common, to appeal directly to members of the Town Council and Town Manager Paul Bockelman.

While the meeting had been scheduled to be a mostly closed-door session to discuss the status of the contract and the direction of negotiations with a Boston-based labor attorney, with no opportunity for public comment on the agenda, councilors were deadlocked on moving into executive session.

That prompted the meeting to be adjourned and the Amherst Media broadcast feed to be cut, though many of the councilors participating in person stayed to hear the union’s complaints during what became a 30-minute listening period.

Andrew Brace, the union president, told councilors there has been both lack of pay and lack of respect for the 60 or so members of the Amherst DPW Associations since negotiations began in November 2024.

“It’s not fair for us, it’s not fair for the town,” Brace said.

Others, like employee Michael Strahan, spoke to being frustrated and demeaned, requested to take care of more parks and recreational spaces, even as brown water leaks from the ceiling of the highway department headquarters onto its only functioning water fountain.

Alan Snow, the town’s tree warden and division director for trees and grounds, said the lack of resources for the department is a longstanding problem.

“This underfunding of the DPW has been going on for years,” Snow said. “I think any taxpayer would be really frustrated if they knew what was going on.”

Corey Deres, a former employee, joined his peers, appreciating having worked for his hometown. “We’re all family,” Deres said.

Meeting adjourned

The opportunity to air concerns came about when there was a tie vote by the Town Council on moving the meeting into an executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining strategy.

Over some shouts and boos from those in the audience, when informed there would be no public comment at the special meeting, Town Council President Mandi Jo Hanneke began the meeting by explaining the rules of procedure. Hanneke said public comment would be available at the next regular council meeting on March 9.

“The council’s here tonight because we generally value the town’s employees and take seriously the concerns that have been shared during public comment periods and to individual councilors,” Hanneke said.

Hanneke also acknowledged the workers’ commitment to the town and each other, but at the same time that councilors need to uphold responsibilities under the town charter and not complicate or undermine the collective bargaining process.

However, District 2 Councilor Amber Cano-Martin, who had attended the rally and handed out pro-union buttons, said there was no need to go into executive session, noting that councilors already had a packet of information related to the contract.

“I think that we should give some time for the workers to speak since they’ve made time to be here tonight,” Cano-Martin said.

District 1 Councilor Jill Brevik, who also was at the rally, said people were out on a frigid evening and that it would be appropriate to give them a chance to talk before the cameras.

“What I’ve heard that these folks have had to go through, I think this is the least we can do,” Brevik said.

But Hanneke said there was no legal pathway for adding public comment to the agenda.

That led to the vote, with those in favor of executive session being Hanneke, District 5 Councilors Ana Devlin Gauthier and Sam MacLeod, District 3 Councilor George Ryan, District 2 Councilor Lynn Griesemer and At Large Councilor Andy Churchill, while those against were Cano-Martin, Brevik, District 4 Councilors Pam Rooney and Jennifer Taub, District 3 Councilor Hala Heather Lord and At Large Councilor Ellisha Walker. District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen abstained.

Quickly afterward, a majority of councilors adjourned the meeting, to shouts of “shame, shame, shame.”

Reaction

Bockelman responded to what happened later on Monday night.

“Our DPW workers provided powerful comments tonight,” Bockelman said. “I respect each of them and am committed to working with our union leaders to reach a collective bargaining settlement that is fair, that makes needed investments and that is financially sustainable for the town.”

Bockelman said in late February he agreed to continue meeting on a contract and is redoubling his efforts to reach an agreement.

As he heard from the workers, Churchill told them that the executive session was to learn what he can and can’t do as a councilor, adding he appreciates their feedback.

“We want to hear from you guys, and we’re sympathetic to the needs of the DPW,” Churchill said.

Cano-Martin closed the evening by applauding the workers. “Thank you for being here and telling your stories,” Cano-Martin said.

Pre-meeting rally

During the hour-long rally on the North Common — with workers holding signs such as “Support Your DPW,” “Amherst DPW Building Unsafe, Collapsing Roof, Mold and More,” and “Lowest Funded Public Works in the State,” — they were joined by a guitarist singing protest songs and members of the Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation.

“We’re here because we care about the town, it’s time the town cared about us,” said Jon Foster, the DPW’s drinking water supervisor.

Foster said town officials seem to be keeping the DPW in a bubble and preventing transparency and truth from getting to the public, which is why the public comment was taken off the agenda.

He also spoke about the building’s toxic mold, limited air handling to remove carcinogens and chipping lead paint. “It’s a perfect metaphor for how the town is treating the DPW,” Foster said.

In addition, the department has lost 12 licensed water operators in the last five years and the department has turned into a revolving door.

Foster said the town can’t claim to be progressive and compassionate when not paying some municipal workers a living wage. “What about economic justice for the people who keep this town functioning?”

Beth Willson, an environmental scientist for the DPW, was brief in her remarks.

“We don’t think the town has negotiated with us fairly, or in good faith, and we’re frustrated,” Willson said.

Snow made the point that the town has treated DPW employees as if Amherst’s population has been shrinking and has fewer responsibilities, even as Amherst has become a city.

“We need to grow with the town, but we’ve been suppressed year after year,” Snow said.

Statistics show at least 50% of the nonsupervisory staff have been on the job less than three years, an indication that they are underpaid, Brace said.

“The town refuses to acknowledge that’s an issue,” Brace said.

The union, he added, has never received the current level of support from the community and other unions, and is feeling inspired.

“We’re not going to take it anymore,” Brace said.

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