County Union Gets Raise, Before Collins Negotiates
County Union Gets Raise, Before Collins Negotiates
Friday, March 7, 2008 06:54 AM - WBEN Newsroom
Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - As an incentive to draw the county’s blue-collar work force to the bargaining table, The Erie County Legislature has approved a one percent pay hike for AFSCME Local 1095, despite objections from County Executive Chris Collins who vows to try and stop it, possibly with intervention from Buffalo’s Fiscal Control Board.
The legislature approved the $1 million cost-of-living increase Thursday, because the lack of a contract with the 1,600 workers left them without cost-of-living increases given other unions over the past two years.
"It was … specifically for the year 2005, and it is a one- time payment for the local employees," says Legislator Betty-Jean Grant.
"The signal this sends to the unions is to bypass the county executive’s office and go across the street to the legislature, where they are going to be very open minded about handing out money we don’t have,"
--Erie County Executive Chris Collins
The raises will be lump-sum payments of about$600 per worker with a total county cost of approx. $1 million. They come in a year when Collins and his administration face contract negotiations with all 7 unions in the county’s workforce.
"It’s a budget breaker. It would indicate our legislators think we don’t have a fiscal budget crisis, but in fact we do, and we have a hard control board because of it. This is just a bad …vote, which long-term is going to impact.. my ability to negotiate in good faith,” Collins said, on the same day when legislators rejected a proposed $30,000 salary increase for his County Attorney-designate Cheryl Green.
"I would call it a million-dollar payoff to the AFSCME union special interests, which was highly irresponsible move by our legislature," Collins says. "
"The signal this sends to the unions is to bypass the county executive’s office and go across the street to the legislature, where they are going to be very open minded about handing out money we don’t have," Collins said.
The legislature passed the measure with the belief that it would not need approval from the county fiscal control board. Collins says he is not sure whether the board can stop the raise, but he hopes to explore that Friday.
In 2006, a fact finder recommended that the county give AFSCME a 7 percent raise, but only if they were willing to accept longer summer hours, fewer sick days, and higher health insurance contributions. They union rejected that and remained at impasse with then county-executive Joel Giambra.
Konst and the 3 Republicans
These 4 are the only legislators who have their heads out free and clear where the Sun Does Shine.
Who in their right mind would vote to approve any pay increase during a collective bargaining impasse where the average salaries are a mighty friendly $33K already? Answer? Brain Dead Democrats who happily chomp at the unions' troughs all year long every year.
Labor costs are the number one budget crusher for the county. Even the AFSCME fact-finder who recommended raises did so ON THE CONDITION OF CONCESSIONS. This stipend is a free-bee and will do NOTHING to coax labor into seeing their necessary role in rolling back the cost of government.
This is not how negotiations work.
C'mon folks, cola is not an entitlement! These workers have been getting their annual step increases, so it is not like they have been working under a total wage freeze.
Bottom line is this: IF you think you are underpaid, GET ANOTHER JOB. If you cant find another job, realize that you are receiving what the market will pay you for your skill set.
Oh and by the way, Laughren's vote in opposition doesnt win him any points. This knucklehead wanted to give more :eek:
From The Newspiece Quoted Above
Quote:
Originally Posted by run4it
Were the raises to satisfy an already existing contract?
ANSWER: NO
Explanation:
Quote:
The legislature approved the $1 million cost-of-living increase Thursday, because the lack of a contract with the 1,600 workers left them without cost-of-living increases given other unions over the past two years.
Where will the money come from?
Our County Legislators voted for the pay increases.
Where will the money come from?
Will it cause an increase in our County taxes?
Just another fine example on how the Democrats look out for the taxpayers of Eire County.
:mad:
Where on the web did you find this information?
I have looked at the County's web site and searched Google and was unable to find any reference to how the County Legislators voted on the pay raises.
Until I read your post I was thought it was a top secret on how our County Legislators voted on the pay raises.
Could you please post a web address so that I may see how our Legislators have voted on the County issues.
I dont think the voting results are posted yet
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Lackawanna
I have looked at the County's web site and searched Google and was unable to find any reference to how the County Legislators voted on the pay raises.
Until I read your post I was thought it was a top secret on how our County Legislators voted on the pay raises.
Could you please post a web address so that I may see how our Legislators have voted on the County issues.
This list comes from a reading of the Buffalo News Article that said 10 dems voted for the measure. It then went on to say Konst and Logran voted against; as did the 3 republicans. It was just a simple extrapolation after that.
