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Letters to the Editor: Union Acknowledges Hardships, Offers to Work Together
March 04, 2011
To the Editor:
We were dismayed to learn that a village board member is indicating the unwillingness of the village CSEA and PBA to recognize the village’s financial situation. This statement is inaccurate.
CSEA has a long history of working with village leaders to provide village services as efficiently and economically as possible. Over the past 20 years, increases in starting pay for a village CSEA worker have stayed below the cost of living increase for the same time period. Our work force has not increased, though the services we provide through DPW and the water department have increased significantly.
In recent years, CSEA worked with the village to implement changes in overtime scheduling that have since saved as much as $25,000 annually. Additionally, we formed a committee with village representatives to investigate new health insurance carriers, the goal being savings to taxpayers. We agreed to increase our health insurance contribution as long as all (union and non-union) village employees contributed to the health insurance premiums, a proposal the village rejected.
When our most recent contract expired, we were met with resistance from the beginning. After flatly rejecting a CSEA proposal that would have added no additional costs, we commenced formal negotiations. At the first meeting, we were greeted with statements such as, “you are lucky to have jobs” and “this is the village’s year.” We recognize how fortunate we are to be working, but this isn’t the spirit of good faith negotiations we’ve experienced in the past.
We have come to expect this type of attitude from this administration. With the complete lack of respect they’ve shown one another, why should we expect them to treat the employees any differently? They refuse to adhere to the expired contract, which remains in effect under state law, as well as a year-old arbitrator ruling in favor of CSEA. As board members argue over law firms and legal bills, they refuse to recognize that their actions towards the CSEA and PBA will cause even higher legal fees.
Please know CSEA has recognized the village’s financial situation just as we always have. Even if the squabbling on the board continues, please know that you have a dedicated village workforce that will continue to provide the excellent services you depend on. We are not just village employees. Many of us are taxpayers, volunteers, and part of the daily life within our wonderful community.
Sincerely,
Wayne Yeoman President
And Members
Village of Cornwall on Hudson CSEA
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