Quincy public works to experiment with four-day week

QUINCY — Quincy public works employees will be experimenting with a four-day work week this summer, one of the provisions in a new contract between the city and the union representing public works. 

The new contract, which replaces the existing contract, was approved by Quincy City Council members Tuesday by a 5-0 vote. Union members had ratified it earlier. The contract will be in effect for four years. 

Quincy City Administrator Pat Haley said city residents will still be able to contact the public works department and get a response five days a week. 

“It is my understanding that a couple (of employees) will remain on the eight-hour, five-day work schedule and will provide Friday coverage in addition to their regular duties,” Haley wrote in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. “We also have a person at compost operations that will work on Saturday.” 

The four-day week will be in effect for summer 2025, he said, to see how it works. It starts in May and will be in effect through October. 

Haley told council members Tuesday that the city has the option to change its mind.  

“It will be reviewed every year to find out if the schedule is working for us, and if it’s not, by either party, we can pull out,” he said. “If we find that it’s not effective, it’s not productive, we can choose not to renew.” 

Public works employees will receive a 4% raise each year through 2027, and 4.5% in 2028. 

“In addition to the wage increases, there are premiums for public works certification,” Haley told council members. 

Council member Josey Ferguson expressed concern that the final contract wasn’t presented to the council before Tuesday. It was a big decision, he said, and he thought the council needed more time to look it over. 

Haley said council members discussed the parameters of the contract during workshops last year. City staff members usually lead the negotiations after that, Haley said.  

“I was given approval to move forward with that boundary,” he said. “Basically, this agreement is the same agreement that we’ve had in years past.”  

In answer to a question from council member Dylan Kling, Haley said city officials suggested some changes to work rules, such as assigning employees to different areas of specialization.  

“We proposed that, and we wanted that, but in the bargaining process they chose not to have that,” Haley said.