CONTRACT '07 - NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE # 8
CSEA Settlement and You

As word begins to spread that the largest Union in the State, the Civil Service Employees Association CSEA Local 1000 has negotiated a tentative agreement, our Local 1104 negotiating team has already set some aggressive goals for contract research on member’s top survey priorities during our team’s conferencing last week.

We will need your help in the coming days to let us know some details of practice in your work area or department regarding tuition and funding.

Collective bargaining, also called “pattern bargaining,” is based on negotiating with the largest Union who uses its influence to receive the best possible wage and Health Insurance settlement. Today’s tentative agreement announcement is of particular interest to our Union because of its impact on the shape of our next contract. While not the case in all State/Labor contracts across the country, NY State contracts set a pattern for percentage wage-based raises. In what would be our fifth contract, today’s announcement points to some of the concerns we will likely face at the table.

We typically know CSEA workers as department Secretaries and University support staff. While CSEA represents employees across all state agencies, our Union has some specific concerns and issues relating to our single state agency. Vacancies in the SUNY system, such as open positions on the SUNY Board of Trustees and in University or College Presidentcies, do not help us. Nevertheless, we will wrestle with these and other issues. Together, we will win a good contract!

CSEA gives the following overview of their new tentative agreement:

CSEA - New York State Tentative Contract Highlights

The agreement includes enhancements in nearly all major contract areas. Across the board salary increases in each year of the agreement


• 3 percent retroactive to April 2007



• 3 percent in April 2008



• 3 percent in April 2009



• 4 percent in April 2010



• Significant improvements in downstate and mid-Hudson salary adjustments to reflect cost-of-living; (Downstate adjustment is currently $1,302 annually and will increase to $1,850 on April 1, 2008 and to $3,026 on October 1 2008. Mid-Hudson adjustment is currently $651 and will increase to $1,000 on April 1, 2008 and to $1,513 on October 1, 2008.)



• Some increases in health insurance co-payments balanced by a wide range of benefit enhancements



• Agreement for Labor-Management discussion on five specific safety and health issues: workplace temperatures, imminent danger situations, minimizing/eliminating hazards, ergonomics and workplace security;



• Funding improvements for the joint safety and health program



• Improvements in funding for Employee Development and Training



• Improvements in the Compensatory time for Overtime Worked Program including a new pilot program;



• Enhancements to the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAs) to pay costs of child and elder care with pre-tax dollars;



• Additional funding in each year of the agreement for the Family Benefit programs including pre-retirement seminars, Lifeworks, Wellness programs and safety grants for on-site daycare centers.



• Enhanced funding in each year of the agreement for the CSEA Employee Benefit Fund to cover dental, prescription eyeglass and other benefits;



• Improvement in benefits for seasonal employees