CSEA rejects deal at Potsdam Central
POTSDAM — The union representing 113 support staff workers at Potsdam Central School has overwhelmingly rejected a one-year contract offered by the district that called for a 3.5 percent pay hike, an increase in insurance premiums for single workers and a decrease in premiums for those with family coverage.
Civil Service Employees Association Unit 8421 of Local 873 rejected the proposal 85-15 on Tuesday.
The union represents bus drivers, cafeteria workers, cleaners and teacher assistants at Potsdam Central. The local has been working without a contract since June 2009.
Trudy M. White, union president, said the resounding "no" vote on the part of rank and file members showed no ambiguity. She said the union rejected the measure, in part, because the membership wanted a multi-year contract and did not want to raise insurance premiums on some members while reducing health costs for others.
The plan rejected Tuesday called for switching union members to a new insurance plan that would lower the family and two-person employee premium contribution from 15 percent to 10 percent but would have increased the contribution made by single employees from nothing to 5 percent.
In monetary terms, the rejected deal would have seen those now paying $133.20 biweekly for family insurance paying $78.63 every pay period instead. But single workers who now pay nothing would have been required to pay between $12 and $15 every two weeks, according to school officials.
Superintendent Patrick H. Brady said the union's rejection of the latest contract offer came on the same day when Gov. David A. Paterson announced a plan to reduce state aid to Potsdam Central by $1.2 million next year.
"I am disappointed that the members of the CSEA voted down what I feel was a very fair offer duly negotiated by both parties. I was hopeful that they would recognize the benefits of the proposal as most would see an increase in pay with the potential of either paying less or a minimal increase in health insurance," Mr. Brady said.
