Lackawanna City School Workers Vote ‘Yes’ On Contract

LACKAWANNA, NY (10/15/2008)(readMedia)-- About 100 workers in the Lackawanna City School District represented by CSEA, the Civil Service Employees Association, have overwhelmingly ratified a new labor agreement with the district on October 3, 2008.

According to CSEA Labor Relations Specialist Jim Loga, the union’s chief negotiator, the new 7-year agreement will take effect immediately and runs through June 30, 2012. The chief negotiator for the district, Attorney Carl Morgan reported to the union that the board of education unanimously ratified the agreement at their meeting October 14, 2008.

The new agreement calls for salary and longevity increases retroactive to July 1, 2005 when the last contract expired. The parties were also able to improve the dental coverage for all employees with a financial contribution by participating members. In exchange, the union agreed to an extended salary schedule for newly hired employees and a greater financial contribution for their health insurance. Additionally, the parties agreed to restrict all members to one health insurance carrier. This change saves the district and the participant money each month without a reduction in the benefit.

CSEA is New York’s leading union, representing employees New York state and its counties, towns, villages, school districts, library systems, authorities and public corporations. Together with a growing population of private sector members and retirees, CSEA forms a union of 290,000 strong. It is also the largest affiliate (and Local 1000) of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) which, in turn, is one of the largest affiliates of the AFL-CIO.

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