Five Separate Union Contracts
Ratified at Special Board Meeting
By Stephen E. Lipken
A special meeting of the Harrison Town Board was called by Mayor Joan B. Walsh on Thursday, June 10, the sole topic ratifying agreements with five Town Unions.
“Each of the five bargaining units signed 3-year contracts, ratified by members, amounting to salary deferrals from their 2010 income to cover the Town’s $1 million dollar shortfall,” according to Mayor Walsh. Unions involved are the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA); CSEA Foremen; International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 2245, and Police Association, Town of Harrison. Teamsters Contract runs for one year.
Each organization was allocated a salary deferral amount by the Controller’s Office which the Town will reimburse employees in three equal parts in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Deferred payments cover the remaining 2010 holidays, health insurance buyout, longevity, annual step increase, clothing allowance and compensatory time.
There is no pay increase for 2010, then a one percent increase in 2011 and three percent in 2012. People leaving through retirement would be credited to the 2010 reduction. No layoffs are scheduled unless under adverse conditions.
Comptroller Maureen MacKenzie thanked Trustee Joe Cannella for negotiating with the Unions and her Staff, Debra Leone and Anna Marie Roberto, who worked many hours.
MacKenzie stated that there was a separate salary deferral sheet for each employee and 100 workers filled them out.
Walsh cited the $9 million dollar expense in health benefits. “Last August, the Comptroller and I, with our insurance advisor, started researching for such an ‘equal or better’ plan, but one that would not cost the Town what we now pay.
We are searching for cost reductions between $1 ½ to $3 million. We looked to lower our costs by having coverage companies instead of being self-insured as we are now.
“Self insurance means that we pay ALL costs. However, the insurance companies were reluctant to quote us coverage as there was such uncertainty regarding the Federal Health Plan. It is only recently that the insurance companies are now willing to talk to us.”
“Our residents cannot weather another substantial property tax increase and there was a reduction of 43 municipal employees. Deferrals even apply to non-union employees. With these negotiations we can get a minimal tax increase,” Walsh stressed.
Mayor Walsh emphasized that the Town Board and Judges took a ten percent salary decrease. Trustee Marlane Amelio decided to forego her salary. “And on a Westchester County tax chart listing 35 municipalities, we are five from the bottom regarding high taxes. There are 30 communities above us,” Walsh observed.
“Uniformed employees have a right to arbitration, but this would have been an unqualified disaster. Arbitration would have been a risk the Town could not afford to take,” Cannella remarked. “This was a massive burden on Maureen’s department and we are all part of the team. We will persevere.”
The Board voted to approve each of the five contracts with Trustee Patrick A. Vetere dissenting on all of them.
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