HOBOKEN – The city of Hoboken finalized a contract agreement with its municipal employees on Monday, ending a five year dispute, according to a press release from the city. The Hoboken Municipal Employees Association, one of six municipal unions, does not include supervisors, police, or firefighters, and is the fifth of six unions to settle a contract with the city recently.

The new contract agreement, said city spokesman Juan Melli in a statement, will provide for a 2 percent annual salary increase from 2009 through 2014. The contract will take effect pending city council approval, which could come as soon as Tuesday night’s meeting.

“We are very pleased to reach a fair agreement with our hardworking employees,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “This agreement demonstrates what can happen when the union leadership and the city listen to each other and work in good faith to address each other’s concerns.”

A union representative echoed Zimmer’s sentiments.

“The HMEA is pleased that this contract was settled in an amicable way,” said Dianne Carreras, the union’s president.

Negotiations with the Hoboken Municipal Supervisors Association, the statement said, are ongoing. – Dean DeChiaro