Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino”™s rejection of a proposed labor deal that had been in the works for more than two years between the Westchester Community College Board of Trustees and the school”™s Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), left union officials in a state of shock.
The move came as a surprise to CSEA Westchester County Local President John Staino, who said he believes that the college has money set aside for any potential tuition bump. Union contracts at WCC require approval from both the school”™s board members as well as the county because community colleges in New York are considered dual employers.
Astorino said he opposed the agreement, which would have given 300 CSEA members, or nonteaching employees of the college, a 7 percent wage increase retroactive to 2012, because of the additional $36 million it would add to the current year”™s tax bill for residents. Recommendations by an independent fact-finder hired by the CSEA would have resulted in a contract that would have added $14 million in additional taxes, according to Astorino”™s statement.
Astorino said the terms of the contract could hamper the county”™s ability to maintain WCC tuition prices, which have remained level the past three years. In August, the Westchester County Board of Legislators unanimously approved an annual budget of $166,669,694 of which the county contributes $29,329,234. The college has 600 employees and about 13,000 full- and part-time students.
“The fundamental flaw in this contract is it grants millions of dollars in retroactive pay increases to employees for years that they were receiving millions of dollars in free health care,” Astorino said in a statement. “At a time when taxpayers and students are both struggling, this kind of deal cannot be justified.”
However, WCC spokesman Patrick Hennessey said, “We collaborated with the county during this process. Our analysis did not indicate the need for a tuition increase for our students. We look forward to further discussion with our employees and all parties on behalf of the county and the college.”
The CSEA”™s Staino said, “This happened so fast and we were taken by surprise because we had been negotiating for quite a few years. We thought we had a deal. We were shocked.”
Staino said the union plans on filing an improper practice charge with the state Public Employment Relations Board, citing unfair bargaining in what he otherwise called a “fair deal” that would have given some employees raises without “breaking the bank” or affecting tuition.
He said that although Astorino had reportedly reached out to WCC since the agreement rejection, he had yet to speak with CSEA officials as of Nov. 11. In a letter to college President Belinda Miles, Astorino wrote, “I am rejecting this agreement and urge the parties to return to the bargaining table to negotiate a contract that”™s fair to all county employees and stakeholders.”
Under the agreement approved by the WCC board of trustees and CSEA officials, which would cover January 2012 through August 2018, WCC employees would see wage increases of $625 per year and lump sum payments of $1,000 per year during the final two years of the contract. The 7 percent general wage increases would be for the first four years of the contract.
The tentative agreement for the college”™s CSEA members would set employee health care contributions at 4 to 8 percent of health insurance premiums beginning next year as well as 10 percent to 15 percent for new hires.
CSEA Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo in a statement called Astorino”™s action a “tremendous slap in the face,” adding any justification for the rejection was “outrageous.”
“Rob Astorino is hurting WCC workers because of a contract deal he has intentionally stalled with his own county workforce,” Riccaldo said. “Our members at the college have made past sacrifices in negotiations, in addition to working with reduced staff and higher workloads.”
Allegedly is too kind for Mr Jenkins. But the reality is there is no Republican Party in New York State. Races go unnectosted, one party towns and villages are the norm. Elites would rather crush Tea Party insurgents than support contests against Democrats. The NY GOP prefers the status quo.