CSEA, mayor reach deal

Local News

January 20, 2012

By Michael Regan The Tonawanda News The Tonawanda News Fri Jan 20, 2012, 11:29 PM EST

— — After a year of negotiations, North Tonawanda and its largest union have come to terms on contract negotiations, while final approval will depend on a vote by the city council.

CSEA Local 832 voted 36-34 Thursday in favor of a four-year deal that came to fruition before an arbitrator last week during six hours of talks, after Mayor Rob Ortt filed an impasse in November with the New York State Public Employment Relations Board.

The union, which represents 85 members in the water, signal and parks and recreation departments, along with several city hall employees including the code enforcement officer and building inspector, has been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2010.

Both sides conceded on past discrepancies in order to come to an agreement, according to Bill Davignon, president of Local 832. Union members agreed to remove a clause from the last contract on stringent staffing levels at the water department that tied the hands of city officials to reduce workforce numbers, while the mayor consented to an additional 2 percent increase in wages.

“Each of us brought our last proposals to the table and went back and forth on different things,” Davignon said.

Should the council approve the arrangement, the union would receive step increases during the next three years for a total of 6.5 percent rise in wages. Davignon said the fact that the mayor upped his previous offer of 4.5 percent was a leading factor in members voting in favor of the contract, which also retroactively includes no increase for 2011.

A health insurance package would be a three-tiered system with a zero percent co-pay for generic drugs and either $20 or $40 co-pay for name brand medication.

Ortt said he expects the council to vote on the contract Feb. 7, while he highlighted the importance of the union concessions, including the workforce reduction clause.

“It was a very split vote and we were obviously very happy to put this behind us,” he said.

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