Control board approves first pact since lifting wage freeze

[steven]

Buffalo's control board today approved a contract with school crossing guards, a pact that will provide retroactive raises in return for workers paying more of their health insurance premiums.

The three-year agreement is the first city contract ratified by a union to be approved by the control board since the panel lifted a wage freeze last year.

Mayor Byron W. Brown pushed for approval today, insisting the city can afford the $1 million in added costs over three years.

But three of the control board's nine members voted against the contract. While they agree the city and its school district face improving finances in the short-term, they said they're alarmed by escalating long-term costs the entities face for retiree benefits.

Chairman Paul Kolkmeyer said he's concerned that approving a contract which continues to provide heavily subsidized health insurance benefits for crossing guards, even after they retire, could set a precedent in negotiations with other unions.

Buffalo's 156 crossing guards will receive a 23 percent raise, a move that will put their salaries in compliance with Buffalo's living wage law. They currently make $8.25 an hour, and the new contract would raise their pay to $10 an hour retroactive to last July. Their salaries would increase to $10.15 by mid-2009.

For complete details, see Tuesday's Buffalo News.

[Bannister]

I wonder if the contract was changed since the first time they voted it down, or if control board members just changed their minds. Why did they approve it now, but deny it before?

[Deerhunter]

the first time they just said no without reading it. Or so it would seem. It is a bad deal for the workers in my estimation. They are paying 10% annually, which would amount to between 900 and 1200 for their health care. That for a 2 dollar an hr raise, for a 20 hr work week. So a $40 dollar a week raise, over roughly 40 weeks = 1600. So they are netting between 400 and 700 for a yr. AT TODAYS RATES. That raise will be eliminated in a very short time. I would have recommended they held out, sued for the City to pay the living wage, and kept the health care as it was. That raise isn't life altering money. I'm still wondering why it wasn't approved last meeting.. Someone offers you a good deal, take it. What their Union agreed to was a good deal for the City, the CB was stupid not to jump on it, luckily someone, maybe it was Collins, saw what it was and it was approved.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

the first time they just said no without reading it. Or so it would seem. It is a bad deal for the workers in my estimation. They are paying 10% annually, which would amount to between 900 and 1200 for their health care. That for a 2 dollar an hr raise, for a 20 hr work week. So a $40 dollar a week raise, over roughly 40 weeks = 1600. So they are netting between 400 and 700 for a yr. AT TODAYS RATES. That raise will be eliminated in a very short time. I would have recommended they held out, sued for the City to pay the living wage, and kept the health care as it was. That raise isn't life altering money. I'm still wondering why it wasn't approved last meeting.. Someone offers you a good deal, take it. What their Union agreed to was a good deal for the City, the CB was stupid not to jump on it, luckily someone, maybe it was Collins, saw what it was and it was approved.

This is why I find your thinking comical.....

Maybe if the city of Buffalo DID NOT PAY CROSSING GUARDS AT ALL, let alone offer them above minimum wage PLUSE INSURANCE, there would be money to pay for people who are NEEDED like cops.

Take some of the nice folks who are on welfare and who need some extra money and offer these jobs on top of the handouts they get. Instead, these are "perk" positions to the connected.

I have said all along that you should be paid IF the city has the money. We were disagree is on IF the city has the money.

The city has countless positions like this that is PURE WASTE! Maybe you should wake up and say WTF is the city paying for crossing guards when they can not even "honor the police contract" as you love to chant.

It is your blind union loyality to the SYSTEM and not just your police union that is simply amazing.

[Bannister]

I truly don't think it would be possible to find that many volunteers to be crossing guards. We have way too many intersections, way too many walkers, and way too many crazy drivers in the city of Buffalo.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

I truly don't think it would be possible to find that many volunteers to be crossing guards. We have way too many intersections, way too many walkers, and way too many crazy drivers in the city of Buffalo.

Who says they have to be volunteers?

I know plenty of seniors in Buffalo that would not mind doing something like this for $8-$10 an hour and have no need for health insurance.

I mean seriously, how hard is it to be a crossing guard?

My point was having these people have health insurance and pay them a living wage on that job that should not be considered something to live off is the problem with Buffalo.

If they were to cut the crap like this, they would have the money to pay the cops what they have in the contract. The money is there, it is just being pissed away is my point.

I would respect a union member saying that the city needs to cut spending on crap so they can pay for what is needed. But instead, they cheer other people to "get theirs" and piss and moan that they did not get theirs.

[CSense]

Instead, these are "perk" positions to the connected.
The city has countless positions like this that is PURE WASTE! Maybe you should wake up and say WTF is the city paying for crossing guards when they can not even "honor the police contract" as you love to chant.

Deerhunter knows the drill. These positions are exactly like you posted Lefty, perk positions for the connected. They are predominately wives of those playing the political grunt work game. You get a minimum 4 hrs pay for 2 hrs work. You get holiday pay and benefits. You also get to claim unemployment during the summer off. It counts toward nys pension, even though it's technically a part-time job.

This is defiantly not about doing what's right for the city.