On the same day one of the smallest communities in Massachusetts, Provincetown, achieved a breakthrough by sealing an agreement with all union and non-unionized school workers, Boston's Mayor Menino secured agreement with one its largest unions to forego cost of livnig increases to avoid layoffs of their personnel.

Negotiations continue with other unions as the likelihood of layoffs loom.

CCT had reported previously on the case for wage freezes made by the head of Boston's Municipal Research Bureau Sam Tyler.

City union agrees to one-year wage freeze
By Stephanie Ebbert, Globe Staff | March 6, 2009

One of the city's largest unions has agreed to a one-year wage freeze, avoiding 50 layoffs and assuring its members job protection in a time of anticipated layoffs, Mayor Thomas M. Menino is expected to announce today at his annual speech before the Boston Municipal Research Bureau.

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 93 agreed to forgo raises for one year, beginning in July. A scheduled 2.9 percent wage hike will be postponed to July 2010.

AFSCME represents 1,239 city workers, including parking compliance officers, tow truck drivers, and Police Department mechanics, with the largest concentrations in the departments of public works and transportation, parks and recreation, and inspectional services. Last year, the average salary of AFSCME members was $43,820.

It became the first large union to answer the mayor's plea to halt wage increases to help stem the bleeding in the city budget, expected to be $131 million in the red next year.

AFSCME members will still get step increases for their increased tenure. The wage delay will save