ERIE COUNTY
Erie County's blue-collar union OKs contract
Published: October 30, 2009, 12:30 am
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Erie County government’s blue-collar union has approved a new contract that provides six annual raises of 3 percent each through 2015 in exchange for concessions on paid leave and employee contributions to employer-provided health insurance.
Local 1095, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, recently approved the contract, 476-425. It affects some 1,700 workers for the government, Erie Community College and Erie County Medical Center.
The pact is similar in many respects to an offer the union rejected months ago. But County Executive Chris Collins sweetened the deal with lump sum payments of $1,000 for each of the four years the local went without a contract, rather than $750 a year, county officials said.
“This new contract continues to uphold my pledge to only sign new union contracts that deal with retiree health care costs in a real and meaningful way,” Collins said. “It is my firm belief that county employees are underpaid and over-benefited. This new contract aligns the AFSCME employee benefit package with those commonly found in the private sector and provides our employees with a much-deserved raise.”
The AFSCME workers starting next year will surrender the summer hours provision that lets them leave work a half hour early and still get paid for the time. They also forfeit Columbus Day and Election Day as paid holidays.
New hires next year will pay 15 percent of the cost of their health-insurance premiums, while current employees will pay 15 percent of cost increases.
In retirement, employees hired before Jan. 1, 2004, would continue to receive health insurance fully paid by the county. Those hired after that date would pay 50 to 75 percent of the cost of their premiums based on their years of service.
Provisions are similar to those included in a contract approved by county employees represented by the New York State Nurses Association and an offer recently rejected by Teamsters Local 264, which represents Holding Center personnel.
mspina@buffnews.com
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