Raises, contract negotiations on hold at county level
NORWICH – This month’s Chenango County Board of Supervisor’s meeting found lawmakers debating and finally tabling whether to award wage increases or freezes for themselves and non-union government employees next year.
The discussion will continue at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 14 in the newly appointed boardroom in the former social services wing of the County Office Building.
Standing between those in favor of raises and those opposed are four labor unions that represent the majority of government workers, two of which settled last year at wage increases anywhere from 3 to 4.5 through 2013. That’s much more than the zero to 1.5 or 2 percent raises that county lawmakers are suggesting for compensation schedule employees such as department directors.
Moreover, two of the unions, both at the Chenango County Public Safety Facility, are stalled in negotiation. Corrections officers, civil service employees, sheriff’s deputies and road patrollers have been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2009. The county has paid out $58,000 so far this year to retain a negotiator on its behalf.
As chairman of the county’s Personnel Committee, Lincklaen’s Wayne Outwater said the county has tried to reach the most favorable agreement on behalf of taxpayers. He said the increase percentages, however, could be more than between 2 and 4 percent.
“I have no idea what it’s going to be. They question is are we going to settle it. This guy has talked them into wanting a big payoff,” he said, referring to the negotiator who represents both unsettled contracts.
Outwater said the county has had “a tough time” dealing with the representative in the past and that he is “amazed” sheriff’s deputies and correction’s officers hired him again.
“The money (to afford his services) comes out of their pay check,” he said.
Speaking in favor of raises for compensation schedule employees was New Berlin Supervisor Ross Iannello, who said at this month’s meeting that “you can’t have people earning more than their directors.” Preston Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan leads the charge for zero increases every budgeting season, saying supervisor and department directors must “lead from the top” in order to arm the county’s hired labor negotiator. German Supervisor Rich Schlag, a fellow Democrat, says the debate only serves to “politicize” and “publicize” supervisors’ salaries.
The two union’s with unsettled contracts are the Chenango County Sheriffs’s Employees Association and the Chenango County Law Enforcement Association. Labor negotiations have gone into a second year before, but never longer.
“We can’t meet their demands as they are now,” said Outwater.
By law, only the LEA may go into arbitration proceedings if unsatisfied with the county’s terms. Outwater said he thought the CCSEA was simply waiting to see how much the sheriff’s deputies receive and demand the same.
Also at this month’s board meeting, lawmakers renewed a contract for health claims administration services through 2012. During discussion, City of Norwich Supervisor Linda E. Natoli requested that the amount of the contract be revealed. It is $250,000.
The discussion will continue at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 14 in the newly appointed boardroom in the former social services wing of the County Office Building.
Standing between those in favor of raises and those opposed are four labor unions that represent the majority of government workers, two of which settled last year at wage increases anywhere from 3 to 4.5 through 2013. That’s much more than the zero to 1.5 or 2 percent raises that county lawmakers are suggesting for compensation schedule employees such as department directors.
Moreover, two of the unions, both at the Chenango County Public Safety Facility, are stalled in negotiation. Corrections officers, civil service employees, sheriff’s deputies and road patrollers have been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2009. The county has paid out $58,000 so far this year to retain a negotiator on its behalf.
As chairman of the county’s Personnel Committee, Lincklaen’s Wayne Outwater said the county has tried to reach the most favorable agreement on behalf of taxpayers. He said the increase percentages, however, could be more than between 2 and 4 percent.
“I have no idea what it’s going to be. They question is are we going to settle it. This guy has talked them into wanting a big payoff,” he said, referring to the negotiator who represents both unsettled contracts.
Outwater said the county has had “a tough time” dealing with the representative in the past and that he is “amazed” sheriff’s deputies and correction’s officers hired him again.
“The money (to afford his services) comes out of their pay check,” he said.
Speaking in favor of raises for compensation schedule employees was New Berlin Supervisor Ross Iannello, who said at this month’s meeting that “you can’t have people earning more than their directors.” Preston Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan leads the charge for zero increases every budgeting season, saying supervisor and department directors must “lead from the top” in order to arm the county’s hired labor negotiator. German Supervisor Rich Schlag, a fellow Democrat, says the debate only serves to “politicize” and “publicize” supervisors’ salaries.
The two union’s with unsettled contracts are the Chenango County Sheriffs’s Employees Association and the Chenango County Law Enforcement Association. Labor negotiations have gone into a second year before, but never longer.
“We can’t meet their demands as they are now,” said Outwater.
By law, only the LEA may go into arbitration proceedings if unsatisfied with the county’s terms. Outwater said he thought the CCSEA was simply waiting to see how much the sheriff’s deputies receive and demand the same.
Also at this month’s board meeting, lawmakers renewed a contract for health claims administration services through 2012. During discussion, City of Norwich Supervisor Linda E. Natoli requested that the amount of the contract be revealed. It is $250,000.
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