The St. Lawrence County Legislature has scheduled a final vote on a proposed contract with its workers represented by CSEA.

The full board is expected to vote at 4:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13.

CSEA members have approved the plan by a large margin, 497 to 43.

People are invited to express their opinions on the tentative contract during the public comment section of the meeting prior to the final vote.

Details of the tentative contract, provided to us by Legislator Peter FitzRandolph, are as follows:

St. Lawrence County AND CSEA UNIT 8400

TENTATIVE AGREEMENT SUMMARY

1) ARTICLE XVIII - ADMINISTRATION OF THE SALARY PLAN

Section 1. Effective upon ratification of this agreement, all employees who were employed with the County in 2009 will receive a $500 increase. Employees who left service in 2009 will receive a pro-rated payment based on their months of service in 2009.

Section 2. Effective on January 1, 2010, all employees hired before July 1, 2009, will move up one step and the salary amount for each grade and step will be increased by two and one-quarter percent (2.25%).

Section 3. Effective on January 1, 2011, all employees hired before July 1, 2010, will move up one step and the salary amount for each grade and step will be increased by two and one-half percent (2.5%).

2) ARTICLE XII – HEALTH INSURANCE & OTHER INSURANCE

Effective January 1, 2011, Article XII will be modified to provide payment of eight (8%) percent for employees with single coverage and effective July 1, 2011 single coverage will be increased to ten (10%) percent.

3) Language and other changes:

-Article III: Collective Bargaining Unit -excludes titles from the union recognition clause.

-Article X: Other Leaves State Legislation – recognizes NYS law regarding time off for blood drives and cancer screenings.

-Article X: Emergency Closures – defines leave policy when County Offices are closed due to an officially declared emergency.

-Article XVII, §6: Civil Service Exams – provides for scheduling efforts when employees are competing in a promotional exam.

-Article XVII, §22: Employee Travel -establishes limits and procedures for meal reimbursements when traveling outside the county on employer business.

-Article XV: Seniority, Section 4.A. Subsection “E”- adds criteria for employee separation from service for failing to return from a layoff.

-Article XIV: Labor Management Program (pg.19) NEW-establishes a joint CSEA/County Safety and Health Committee.

-Article V, §3(B): Summer Schedule Amendment and undated Highway MOU- incorporates an existing Memorandum of Understanding regarding four, ten hour days for the Highway Department during the summer months and provides the Highway Superintendent with the authority to extend the season.

-Article VIII, Section 9: Verification of Illness-requires Doctor Verification and eliminates the verification of illness by a Public Health Nurse.

-Article XXI, Section 5: Longevity-defines when longevity increase will take effect.

-Article V: Work Day & Work Week- defines and extends summer hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

-Article VI Section 1 Paragraph 1: Holidays, -limits carryover of “in lieu days” for employees required to work on a holiday to 120 days.

-Article XVIII: Administration of the Salary Plan-increases hazardous duty pay for employees working in the Jail by $.25 per hour.

-Article V, NEW SECTION E: Compensatory Time-defines policy for payment of compensatory time when an employee separates from service.

-Article XII: Health Insurance & Other Insurance – provides, whenever possible, free flu vaccinations to all employees as well as free pneumonia vaccinations to “at risk” employees