Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino rejected a proposed labor deal between the Westchester Community College Board of Trustees and the school’s Civil Service Employees Association union Nov. 5, citing potential increases in WCC tuition and taxpayer dollars.
Astorino said he opposed the agreement, which would have given 300 CSEA members a 7 percent wage increase, because of the additional $36 million it would add to the current year’s tax bill for individual taxpayers. An independent fact-finder hired by the CSEA instead recommended $14 million.
He added the terms of the contract could hamper the county’s ability to maintain WCC tuition prices, which have remained level the past three years. The county-sponsored contribution for the current school year is $29.15 million.
“The fundamental flaw in this contract is it grants millions of dollars in retroactive pay increases to employees for years they were receiving millions of dollars in free health care,” Astorino said. “At a time when taxpayers and students are both struggling, this kind of deal cannot be justified.”
Under the agreement approved by the WCC Board of Trustees and CSEA officials, which would cover January 2012 through August 2018, WCCÂ 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.
In a statement WCC Spokesman Patrick Hennessey said, “There are many complicated factors involved in contract negotiations.”
“We collaborated with the county during this process,” he added. “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 tentative agreement for WCC’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.
In a letter to WCC 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.”
