Results 1 to 15 of 19

Thread: County Union Gets Raise, Before Collins Negotiates

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Unregistered
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    sercert
    Posts
    485

    Angry 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.

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    4,542
    This is ridiculous. Housing values in Dallas are so cheap, and the property taxes are so low.

    I want a McDonald's milkshake.
    http://www.buffaloreuse.org/~kool aid free zone~

  3. #3
    Unregistered
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    sercert
    Posts
    485

    Talking Biggest Joke Of All


    There is no better time to celebrate this increasingly vibrant city, than on June 26 - 29.
    http://www.buffalohomecoming.com/

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    201

    Thumbs up 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

  5. #5
    Member bflonum1fan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    South Bflo
    Posts
    2,123
    No wonder WNY is going down the tubes !

    Morons like we keep electing pull this kind of crap ! I've nearly had it !
    It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required. (Sir Winston Churchill)

  6. #6
    Member run4it's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    5,689
    Were the raises to satisfy an already existing contract?
    But your being a dick
    ~Wnyresident

  7. #7
    Member tomac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Amherst
    Posts
    1,953
    Quote Originally Posted by Comet
    These workers have been getting their annual step increases, so it is not like they have been working under a total wage freeze.
    Glad you brought that up! Collins whining about the legislature is kind of funny because they dumped on his hiring that attorney at top longevity instead of entry level, and his wanting to increase the pay rates of the other three appointees.
    Once upon a time, another Executive gave a bunch of his appointees improper pay raises at the expense of the working civil servants, have you forgotten Joel Giambra already?
    Good to see that one of his buddies, that park worker, Syracuse got dumped for spending time in his bar. Both he and his co-"worker" were Giambra appointees.
    Collins is no different.
    Think you can trust the government?
    Ask an Indian!

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Buffalo
    Posts
    4,542
    Quote Originally Posted by tomac
    Glad you brought that up! Collins whining about the legislature is kind of funny because they dumped on his hiring that attorney at top longevity instead of entry level, and his wanting to increase the pay rates of the other three appointees.
    Once upon a time, another Executive gave a bunch of his appointees improper pay raises at the expense of the working civil servants, have you forgotten Joel Giambra already?
    Good to see that one of his buddies, that park worker, Syracuse got dumped for spending time in his bar. Both he and his co-"worker" were Giambra appointees.
    Collins is no different.

    Waaa Waaa Waaaaaa!

    Yeah he is different. He's made tons of money from....hmmmm...managing money!
    http://www.buffaloreuse.org/~kool aid free zone~

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Poverty
    By HipKat in forum Morning Breakfast - Breaking News
    Replies: 110
    Last Post: January 26th, 2008, 09:24 PM
  2. Asleep behind the wheel...
    By WNYresident in forum Morning Breakfast - Breaking News
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: January 22nd, 2006, 03:37 PM
  3. Charter Review Commision
    By LHardy in forum Erie County Politics
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: October 8th, 2005, 11:35 PM
  4. The Taylor Law and how it kills taxpayers....
    By takethepowerback in forum Morning Breakfast - Breaking News
    Replies: 118
    Last Post: April 10th, 2005, 06:27 PM
  5. Governor Announces $11 Million For Local Transit Services
    By Night Owl in forum Albany NY State budget Capital and Governor Kathy Hochul
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: April 9th, 2005, 08:12 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •