A group of CSEA 6300 members and supporters stand along Route 394 in Mayville July 22, 2015 as part of an effort to raise awareness for the need of a new collective bargaining agreement with Chautauqua County. (Image by Jason Sample, WRFA)
MAYVILLE, NY – After waiting three-and-a-half years with no results, the leaders of a union representing an estimated 950 government workers in Chautauqua County say enough is enough and it’s time they receive a new contract.
Dozens of members and supporters of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Unit 6300 were in Mayville Wednesday night prior to the Chautauqua County Legislature meeting in an attempt to draw attention for the need of a new contract.
The members of the union – which includes highway department employees, social service workers, health department workers, and others – have been working under the terms of their old collective bargaining agreement since Jan. 1, 2012.
Local president Steve Skidmore spoke to WRFA Wednesday night and said the group is at an impasse with the county over a new contract, and wanted to raise awareness and support through Wednesday night’s rally.
“We’re out here because we haven’t had a new contract in 43 months,” Skidmore said. “We’re frustrated. We tried to show the county how to save millions of dollars in insurance [costs] and they seem to walk away from it.”
Skidmore said at issue in negotiations is health insurance, and the amount of money the county could be saving in the line item if it were to go with a plan supported by the union.
“The sticking point is how we fund the insurance and how we could save so much money over the past few years and into the future. It’s money the taxpayers could save – not only is it money that could help us get raises, but it could save the taxpayers money,” Skidmore said. “We’ve had our own insurance company and another insurance company give presentations, showing the county where it could save money, and they still don’t want to do it.”
CSEA members and supporters stand outside the Gerace Office building during a rally on July 22, prior to the Chautauqua County Legislature Meeting. The group is trying to raise awareness for the need of a new contract. (Image by Jason Sample, WRFA)
County executive Vince Horrigan says that the contract negotiations have been ongoing since before he took office at the start of 2014 and he’s made it a top priority since being elected. He adds that while the two sides are currently at an impasse, he’s confident a new deal can be reached with the help of a mediator.
“We’re closer than a lot of people think,” Horrigan said. “Some of it is ‘Where are the savings?’ and ‘When will the savings happen?’ We have three other unions which we have negotiated successful contracts and we have to be careful that whatever we do with our insurance policy, it applies with everyone. We don’t want to wind up impacting or violating other agreements.”
“While I can’t comment on the specifics, I do think a mediator will help us iron out the perceived differences,” Horrigan concluded.
Meanwhile, CSEA labor relations specialist Don Luna is also inviting anyone with the knowledge of health insurance to offer their help as well in trying to iron out a deal.
“We’re asking somebody to take a look at this, besides us. It seems like the county and us are at a standstill. They think it’s one thing, we think it’s another,” Luna told WRFA. “So we’re asking anybody that has an expertise in insurance to come and take a look at this plan and see who’s right.”
Horrigan said that while he’s not sure how long the mediation process will take, he’s hoping to get the contract situation finally resolved sooner, rather than later. The contract would also need to be reviewed and approved by the legislature prior to going into effect.
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