The difference between the contract voted down two months ago and the agreement approved on Tuesday is a wage "freeze" our members agreed to in the second year. Our members accepted the Town's proposal, which will save over $28,000.00 in the next fiscal year, in order to show real leadership in solving Tolland's economic problems.

In exchange, our members were able to negotiate job security provisions that will preserve quality public services for Town residents and businesses for the next two years. Chapter members argued for preventing any further layoffs to both bridge the budget deficit while protecting Tolland's communities and its people.

Now that our members have a contract after three very difficult months of struggle to reach an acceptable agreement, it is time to turn attention to the Town's budget referendum on May 5. It is important that the budget pass in order to prevent Council members from making additional cuts that would imperil other vital public services.

Then we can begin to focus on municipal elections in November, when all seven seats on the Town Council will be on the ballot. That's when we will have the opportunity to vote for elected officials that hold more respect for public services and the workers that deliver them than the current Council's six members who voted down our agreement in February.