Putnam County Reaches Contract Agreement with CSEA Workers
Mary Ellen Odell
Putnam County Executive
(845) 808-1001
March 28, 2014
Putnam County Reaches Contract Agreement with CSEA Workers
After years of negotiations, Putnam County government has reached a tentative agreement with its CSEA union workers from Local 8150. The proposed contract back dates to 2012 and runs through 2016. The CSEA union represents the largest group of county employees and includes health and social services, highway and clerical staff.
“I am so pleased that we have finally been able to agree to terms with the CSEA,” said County Executive MaryEllen Odell. “We have our workforce and appreciate their dedication to the county. They truly are the backbone of the county.”
In the agreement the workers would not get a raise in pay for 2012 or 2013. A $500.00 payment will be given in 2014 and then again in 2015. Also in 2015 the union members will receive a 1.5 percent raise on top of the payment. A 2 percent raise has been agreed on for 2016.
Additionally, union members would now have an alternative discipline procedure made available to them.
“With unfunded mandates, the property tax cap and the economic downturn all affect our budget, Putnam County has been like most families, and has had to do more with less for the past few years,” said Odell. “As a result of programs we have been able to implement to generate additional revenue for the county and signs of an improved economic condition in the region, we are able to agree to reasonable gestures of good faith and future salary increases.”
CSEA Putnam County Unit 8150 President Janet Gomez-Canaday thinks the agreement balances the needs of the union members with those of the taxpayers.
“After working since late 2011 to reach this tentative agreement, we are pleased to have a deal that is fair to both our members and Putnam County taxpayers,” said Gomez-Canaday. “With our members doing so much more with less, it will provide some much-needed stability in the workforce once the contract is approved by the Legislature. I appreciate County Executive Odell’s leadership in reaching a resolution after a long period of negotiations and I am grateful for the expertise of CSEA Chief Negotiator Glenn Blackman and our hardworking CSEA negotiating team.”
A special meeting of the Putnam County Legislature’s Personnel Committee to consider the agreement has been set for Monday, March 31. The contract will be finalized if the Putnam County Legislature approves it during its regular monthly meeting on April 1.
Putnam County continues to negotiate with the Public Safety Employees Association (PSEA) in hopes of coming to an agreement in the near future.
