City Employees Ask New Contract

The Cambridge City Employees Union will picket City Hall and the Department of Public Works building today until the City agrees to negotiate a new contract with the union.

The 375-member union of street cleaners, park workers, cemetery, incinerator and sewage crews will picket during their off-hours and will refuse to work overtime. This may result in delays in picking up rubbish. In plowing and removing snow, and in the sanding of streets during storms.

James P. Cassidy, the union president, said yesterday that the City has repeatedly refused to contact him about negotiations for a new contract. The old contract expired December 31.

James H. Corcoran, City Manager, said no raises would be given this year to City workers, including policemen, firefighters and teachers, according to The Boston Globe, Corcoran has sole jurisdiction over wages of the city employees union. He could not be reached last night for further comment.

The city workers union is seeking a 5.5 per cent pay hike, within the Federal Price Control guidelines, and more fringe benefits.

The union voted in October to picket if contracts were not signed by December 31. Public employees are legally prohibited from striking.

Police and firefighters are now before the City Council seeking 11 per cent pay raises over a two-year period.