Sullivan union negotiations impasse

Fritz Mayer
Posted 2/13/19

MONTICELLO, NY — According to a February 8 press release from Sullivan County Manager Josh Potosek, county officials have been negotiating a new contract with a group of county employees. About …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Sullivan union negotiations impasse

Posted

MONTICELLO, NY — According to a February 8 press release from Sullivan County Manager Josh Potosek, county officials have been negotiating a new contract with a group of county employees. About 500 employees are represented by Teamsters Local 445, and, after discussing for two years, the union and the county are still unable to reach an agreement.

Potosek writes that the county has initiated the aid of the New York state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to come up with recommendations for resolving the issue. 

The county considers its last offer to be fair. “The offer, made in December and supported by all nine legislators, would have given every Teamsters member at least a $3,000 increase to their base pay, if not more, and 122 positions would have received a 5% raise on top of that. Adding in a number of concessions, the county’s offer would have required the appropriation of $1.6 million more in the county budget.”

 “In return, the county asked for one concession: that Teamsters members hired by the county after January 1, 2019 enroll in the New York State Health Insurance Program’s (NYSHIP’s) Excelsior Plan and contribute 20% toward the annual premium.” (Such an arrangement already exists for a number of other county employees.)

The healthcare issue has been a sticking point in the past, and the union says that Sullivan County Employees make nearly $10,000 less per year than employees in similar positions in other counties and municipalities.

Jerry Ebert, a business agent for Local 445, issued a statement that said, “We have a sense the county is trying hard to provide us a significant increase, and we are grateful. However, there are still a few important issues that need to be negotiated. We believe we are close to a final deal that we can bring to the members for their vote.”

sullivan county, unions

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here