County CSEA takeover target Another union gauging interest in Schenectady for switch after scandal By LAUREN STANFORTH Staff writer Updated 08:41 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, 2011
SCHENECTADY -- Some members of the county's CSEA local who were left reeling by the Steven Raucci scandal are shopping for new representation.
The United Public Service Employees Union is gauging to see if there's enough interest within the Schenectady County Civil Service Employees Association to petition to take over leadership of the unit of 750 county office, nursing-home and community-college workers.
United Executive Vice President Gary Hickey said workers approached his union about a month ago about a possible takeover, citing their displeasure with CSEA leadership. Hickey said his union has already met with a group of 25 CSEA members and then 50 members.
A closed informational session was to be held Wednesday night at the Glen Sanders Mansion.
UPSEU represents about 4,000 workers in the Capital Region, including county workers in Rensselaer and Columbia counties.
Why would the workers want to break from the great union representation they had under The Mad Bomber? Since he left things have not been the same. The current CSEA leadership lacks that old spark.
It won't matter what union they choose. It will be a taxpayer's nightmare!!
Now is the time to sell the nursing home!! Although it is the union workers, after all, that get the lucrative packages that garners political votes! All at the taxpayer's expense!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Union members reject contract SCHENECTADY — The Civil Service Employees, Local 1000 has rejected Schenectady County’s contract offer and will declare an impasse in negotiations. There were 329 votes in opposition and 210 in favor of the county’s proposed two-year contract. A statement released by CSEA said members believe they have contributed millions of dollars in savings to the county through the program it suggested of purchasing prescription drugs from Canada as well as Medicaid Advantage plans and increased co-pays. However, the union was being asked for more concessions without equivalent compensation. Members were also concerned about the impact of higher health care costs for retirees. The county was offering raises of 1.5 percent per year. Workers also receive step increases worth about 2 to 3 percent of their pay for the first nine years of service and longevity bonuses starting in the 10th year and for every fi ve years. County officials were seeking to switch to an insurance plan that has a $15 co-pay but only for new hires. The current plan does not have a co-pay. It also would have moved retirees into a Medicare managed plan. Voting took place at county work locations during the last three days and during a membership meeting on Tuesday night. The union, which represents about 750 people, has been working under the terms of a four-year contract that expired on Jan. 1. This could open the door to an effort by the United Public Service Employees Union, which is also seeking to represent the workers. Now that the membership has rejected the contract, starting May 1, the union can file a petition to represent the employees.
A statement released by CSEA said members believe they have contributed millions of dollars in savings to the county through the program it suggested of purchasing prescription drugs from Canada as well as Medicaid Advantage plans and increased co-pays. However, the union was being asked for more concessions without equivalent compensation. Members were also concerned about the impact of higher health care costs for retirees.
what a dumb a$$ statement.....believe they have CONTRIBUTED....what the hell does that mean.....here's the deal....DISSOLVE the public unions so we dont have to feel sooooooooo F'en thankful for their contribution, that was their freakin' responsibility just like it is for everyone else who pays for their own sh!t......
the only reason they have 'future contracts' for retirement/health insurance is so they can be podium pucks used by the elected......
remove the middle guy and we will find the thief......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
SCHENECTADY COUNTY New union to challenge CSEA Representation of most county workers at stake BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com.
The United Public Service Employees Union will seek to decertify a rival union representing three-quarters of the Schenectady County government workforce following membership’s rejection of a contract proposal, organizers said. Members of the Civil Service Employees Association voted 329-210 against ratifying a two-year contract proposed by Schenectady County. Votes were tallied Wednesday night following several days of balloting. Rejection gives the UPSEU an opportunity under labor law to challenge the CSEA for representation of 750 county workers. Gary Hickey, UPSEU executive vice president, said organizers hope to collect more than 350 authorization cards before petitioning the state Public Employment Relations Board for an election — far more than the 30 percent required to trigger an election. He said an election could occur within the month. “We have numerous representatives working on this and we have a wide range of supporters within the county helping to organize,” he said. Hickey said he views the contract rejection as a vote of no confidence in the CSEA’s leadership. “From what members tell me, the CSEA leadership is never there and is never seen. They have told us they have failed them for years,” he said. “Our style is different from theirs and that is what the members are looking for.” Hickey said CSEA members sought out the UPSEU for representation, not the other way around. .....................>>>>............................>>>>.........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01403&AppName=1
So quit.....who cares.....state scabs or union scabs....what difference does it make in the wording.....I still have to pay taxes.....the taxpayers are ready to pick off the public union scabs.....you are not more equal than the rest of us......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
So quit.....who cares.....state scabs or union scabs....what difference does it make in the wording.....I still have to pay taxes.....the taxpayers are ready to pick off the public union scabs.....you are not more equal than the rest of us......
no kidding....that's why the union thugs need to go....so you and I are on equal footing....the problem is that the union thugs dont see the future and neither do the politicos elected....get rid of entitlements and make it salary only....keep it simple and we wont have this dumba$$ conversation year in and year out.....there are many hands in the pot ripping you and I off....the only problem is they have more media/elections on their side to get us quibbling over sh!t they know that can be fixed but look for votes instead....
I dont want to fight with you and my beef is not with you personally....our leaders F'D up the equation to allow for unjust scales so they could get votes thinking the next generation would have to deal with it....they were right and here we are.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
County CSEA union declares impasse SCHENECTADY — The union representing 750 Schenectady County government employees has filed an impasse notice in contract negotiations with management. The Civil Service Employees Association declared impasse Friday. The move follows union members’ rejection of the county’s contract proposal last week by a vote of 329-210. The Public Employment Relations Board has assigned a mediator, who will be scheduling a meeting shortly. The previous contract expired Jan. 1.
Now is the time to sell the nursing home!! Although it is the union workers, after all, that get the lucrative packages that garners political votes! All at the taxpayer's expense!
It doesn't matter who the union is. Unless Savage's Nursing Home is stopped this County is finished. There is a reason both Montgomery and Fulton Counties got out of this.