April 25, 2012 -- County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Teamsters Local 456 have reached an agreement that for the first time would require union members to contribute to the cost of their health care, something Astorino has been pushing for all unions to do.
"This is a major breakthrough accomplished through the back and forth of collective bargaining," Astorino said, as he announced the agreement on a seven-year contract. "I believe the tentative contract is fair to our taxpayers, who cannot afford the $140 million a year for free health care for our workforce, and fair to the Teamster members who will now get their first raise since their contract expired four years ago."
Astorino called on the county's other unions, including its largest – the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) – to follow the example set by the Teamsters.
The agreement between the county and the Teamsters was overwhelmingly ratified by the union on Tuesday night. It still must be approved by the county Board of Legislators. It would affect county managers and other employees who are part of the Teamsters union. Non-represented employees already contribute to their health care costs, under terms of a law Astorino initiated in 2010.
The Teamsters' union has been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2008. The CSEA has been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2011. The county's other six unions all have expired contracts as well. They represent police officers and superior officers, corrections officers and superior officers, criminal investigators in the District Attorney's Office and nurses.
Under terms of the tentative agreement with the Teamsters, employees will begin paying a portion of their health care costs as follows:
- Effective July 1, 2012, all employees who were members of the Teamsters union before the date of ratification will pay 10 percent of the cost of their health care. This will rise to 12.5 percent on Jan. 1, 2015.
- All employees hired after the contract ratification and all employees who become Teamsters will pay 20 percent of their health care cost at the start of their employment.
- The tentative contract also includes increases in co-payments for doctor visits, emergency room visits and prescription drugs, as well as other cost-containment measures.
Compensation changes will be as follows:
- Effective Jan. 1, 2009, union members will get a 3 percent raise.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2010, union members will get a 3 percent raise.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2011, union members will get a 3.25 percent raise.
- There will be no raise for 2012.
- There will be no raise for 2013.
- There will be no raise for 2014.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2015, union members will get a 2.75 percent raise.
Astorino thanked the Teamsters Local president, Eddie Doyle Jr., and his members for "their leadership in establishing a labor model that works for both our unions and our taxpayers."
He added, "Nothing would make me happier than preserving the job of every county worker. But to do that, I am going to need the help of our unions."