CSEA Unit 9200

Negotiations Update and Response

(And to e-mails of late.)

 

January 30, 2007

 

Committees:      Are on a volunteer basis from the membership.

Those who are interested in being on committees must contact the union office to let us know of your interest. The Union will try not to fill these Committees with the same people, thereby overloading them.

WE NEED MORE MEMBERS TO GET INVOLVED!!

 

The Negotiation Committee (as are ALL committees!) is filled by the President.  The officers were selected for this time to allow a broad view of the issues without feeling the need to represent their individual departments.  They were voted in to represent all the members.

 

E-mail List:        This is the property of the Union for Union related information dissemination.  There are e-mail addresses that are NOT County issued and thereby need to be protected by the Union.  We guard the list for the protection of the Union and its’ listed members.

 

Professional Negotiator:     CSEA provides a professional negotiator for all contract negotiations.  Our assigned individual has over 25 years of experience negotiating contracts for CSEA in the public sector.                             

 

                                                                   Page 1 of 3

 

Page 2 of 3

 

WCC Fragmentation:         At present, we know there has been a filing for fragmentation by a group at the College.  CSEA Albany (Law Dept.) has their petition; (per PERB) is deficient, and that they have until 2/6/07 to correct.  It must then be validated or dismissed. 

                             (More to come on this issue as it progresses.)

 

Dues Increase:            This was voted on by ALL the delegates (statewide) at the last convention in September.

(It was printed in the monthly Work Force newspaper from CSEA.)  It was narrowly passed (40+ votes!) in a vote of over 1,900 votes.  
Westchester Local 860 voted their entire allotment of 123 votes AGAINST the dues increase.  Collection of dues is done regardless of contract status for ALL units and local throughout the State.

 

Contract Campaign Committee:          Since the County has had no legitimate comprehensive offer on the table until 1/22/07 there was no reason to meet.  We are powerless under the law to force them to the table and offer a fair contract proposal.  We have requested more info on the present offer that deals with Health Insurance PROPOSED changes before meeting with the Committee so that we will be able to answer all questions we expect to be asked.  Rather than not having answers, we felt it would be better to be as best informed to accurately represent the PROPOSED changes and its’ effects (positive & negative).

 

 

Page 3 of 3

 

Office Hours:     The office is generally open from 8 to 5 every day.  We have, at times, had to “close the office due to conflicting appointments, emergencies or illness.  We are accessible by voice mail and e-mail.   (I happen to check mine every night and on weekends!)

 

YES or NO votes:      Voting on your contract and for Union officials is a right and an obligation. 
NOT VOTING is neither a YES or No vote since it CANNOT be counted! 
67% of the entire membership voted on the last contract.  Of those, 70% voted to accept it.

 

Involvement:     We all need to be more involved in committees, negotiations and everyday issues that arise. We, the leadership, are only as strong as the support of the members!

 

          We and You are the Union – not just the officers!

 

                                        YoU

                                         aNd

                                           I

                                          Together!!      

 

                                                                    Jack McPhillips