Log in Subscribe

Officers show up in force

Civil service employees demand a contract

Isabel Braverman - Staff Writer
Posted 9/20/18

MONTICELLO — They were there to remind the legislators that their voices need to be heard. They are the union workers of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA).

A group of members from …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Officers show up in force

Civil service employees demand a contract

Posted

MONTICELLO — They were there to remind the legislators that their voices need to be heard. They are the union workers of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA).

A group of members from the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office came to the county legislature full board on Tuesday. Most of them are corrections officers at the Sullivan County Jail. CSEA Union President John Wagner said they haven't had a contract in six years.

“We're here today because we wanted to remind the legislators that we are six years without a contract and we're looking to get a contract ratified and to be done with it,” Wagner said.

The county has been in negotiations with the union for six years, but no conclusion has been agreed upon.

The union workers are asking for compensatory time, healthcare benefits and a salary raise.

County Manager Josh Potosek says those requests can be a challenge to settle on. “Each request of the county by the union may appear reasonable in nature, but each features significant costs to taxpayers, costs which must be weighed with fiscal prudent policy,” Potosek said. “The specifics of health insurance, retirement, compensatory time and overtime expenses must all be evaluated carefully.”

The CSEA union members plan to come to the legislature meetings every month. However, Wagner says he is unsure if the county will come to an agreement on the contract. “It doesn't seem like we're going to any time soon,” he said.

The county legislators thanked the members for being there. “We greatly appreciate the work all of our county employees do for us in every department and will continue to negotiate in good faith will all units,” Potosek said.

Wagner commended his fellow officers. “The members of the jail work very hard,” he said. “They are proud members of the community. We look out for each other. We just hope the community understands our position at this point.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here