Bridgeport Workers Unite to Win Pandemic Premium Pay for Essential Workers

Earlier this month, more than 1,000 public service workers in Bridgeport – including firefighters, police officers, teachers, clerical staff, public facilities staff, paraprofessionals, civilian detention officers, school administrators, nurses and telecommunications operators – received an extra $1,500 in their paychecks.

The money was neither back pay from a labor settlement nor the result of a bookkeeping error. It was pandemic premium pay intended to recognize the hard work and sacrifice of essential workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was also the result of good old-fashioned union solidarity, as several unions representing city and Board of Education employees came together last year to elevate the push for pandemic “hero pay” to be funded from Bridgeport's share of the American Rescue Program (ARP) approved by Congress in 2021.

Their advocacy paid off. After several months of discussions with Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration, the unions secured a commitment to provide the one-time premium payment to essential employees who worked during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Ganim and Bridgeport City Council members joined with union members at press conference April 14 to announce that essential employees would see the $1,500 premium pay reflected in their paystubs that week.

AFSCME Local 1303-468 President Ron Lupica, representing Bridgeport public facilities, spoke at the news event. He called the pandemic pay agreement “a great victory for the hard-working employees who make Bridgeport happen.”

Along with Lupica, Sgt. Brad Seely, president of AFSCME Local 1159 representing Bridgeport Police, and Sherrie Weller, president of AFSCME Local 1522 representing Board of Education and city workers, played critical roles within the broader coalition campaign.

The Bridgeport Union Coalition is comprised of city and Board of Education bargaining units representing a wide range of essential workers.

“We are proud of the work we did when our help was needed the most,” coalition leaders said in a statement released to the press. “As essential workers, we put our lives and safety on the line to serve the public during the pandemic. Regardless of our fears of contracting COVID-19 and its variants, or the risk to our families, we put our feelings aside to show up for work. Even during the most uncertain times of the pandemic, our commitment and dedication to serve Bridgeport never waned.”

Union leaders thanked Ganim and city leaders for their cooperation and support, describing the pandemic payment as “a meaningful and valued recognition of our sacrifice.”

Local union leaders brought the issue to public light by speaking at City Council meetings and holding a press conference outside Bridgeport City Hall last November. Immediately after that press event, Ganim made a commitment to provide pandemic “hero pay” to front-line workers.

As reported by the Connecticut Post, the premium payments total about $5.3 million of Bridgeport’s $110 million received through ARP.

The following unions participated in the pandemic pay coalition: AFSCME Local 1303-468; AFSCME Local 1159; AFSCME Local 1522; NAGE Local R1-200; IAFF Local 834; the Bridgeport Education Association; AFSA Local 46; LIUNA Local 1224; CALU; and the Bridgeport School Crossing Guards Association.