Massena Central approves two union contracts

By BOB BECKSTEAD
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

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MASSENA — A three-year contract between the Massena Central School District and Massena Building Administrators Association includes a 3.75 percent pay increase each year.

But that will be gobbled up by the additional contributions members of the union will make to their insurance plans the second and third years of the contract, school officials say.

“It’s a little bit of a net gain, but not a lot,” union President Allen W. Rowledge said Tuesday night after the Board of Education unanimously approved the pact with the union.

The contract already had been approved by union members.

Mr. Rowledge said the 14 union members — building principals, assistant principals, dean of students and department directors — currently pay 5 percent of premiums toward their health insurance coverage. That will remain at 5 percent for the first year of the new contract, but will rise to 10 percent for the second and third years.

“We realize in the private industry there are a lot of people paying toward their health insurance,” Mr. Rowledge said, noting union members felt they should assist the district by providing more toward their coverage.

The health insurance contribution applies to employees who were on board prior to July 1. Personnel hired after July 1 have a 15 percent contribution, according to Mr. Rowledge.

He said their previous contract expired on June 30, and the negotiations went quickly.

Board members also approved a new contract with the Massena Confederated School Employees’ Association, but that won’t be voted on by union members until next week, according to President David J. Page.

Board members had been asked to approve the MCSEA contract in June, but failed to do so, putting both sides back at the negotiating table.

The MCSEA includes clerical workers, teacher aides, nurses, food service workers, bus drivers, cleaners, custodians and maintenance workers.