APRIL 2008

$600 AFSCME PAYMENTS ARE IRRESPONSIBLE

The recent action approved by 10 lawmakers in the Majority of the Erie County Legislature to grant a payment of $600 per worker for almost 1200 blue collar county workers is an irresponsible action and a setback for future negotiations.

On August 2, 2006, a fact-finder hearing was held between Erie County and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1095. Preliminary discussions between the two parties had offered AFSCME raises, but only with certain givebacks. Both the County and the union rejected the changes and efforts have failed to negotiate a successful contract that expired on December 31, 2004.

Concessions recommended in the 2006 arbitrator's report include contract changes in the areas of summer hours, lunch periods, health insurance for new employees and retirees, health insurance waivers, sick leave and sick leave banks, sick leave buy-backs and holidays. Many of these benefits are clearly a luxury for the workforce and are no longer affordable. And, with the increasing cost of health insurance straining employers, fully paid health insurance is a thing of the past.

As you know, I have been fighting for years to align Erie County employment more closely with the private sector. These raises will cost the County and the taxpayers almost $817,000. The Legislators who voted for more than ¾ of a million dollars in raises failed to provide the necessary funding for these raises in the 2008 budget. Rather, they speculate the money will come from last year's unexpected sales tax proceeds. However, to date, there has been no determination that there was a surplus for 2007 or the amount of such a possible surplus. It is irresponsible for the Legislature to raid our fund balance and jeopardize infrastructure improvements or reductions in the reserve fund. Granting raises without concessions is simply something that Erie County cannot afford.

It is important that when Erie County comes to the table to negotiate contracts with all eight of the bargaining units in county government, any pay raises for county employees are linked to money-saving concessions. Reducing the size and cost of government is a reality that we must address, and during contract negotiations it will be the responsibility of Erie County and union employees to establish new compensation principles that are fair to county employees and taxpayers -- and that help to reduce the structural cost of county operations.

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