Sept. 25, 2012 -- The Corrections Superior Officers Association (SOA) has become the third county government union to agree to a new labor contract that includes for the first time employee contributions to the cost of health care.

A tentative seven-year contract, running retroactively from 2009  to 2015, was announced Tuesday by  County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Acting Union President Bruce Donnelly. It was ratified by the union members Monday, Sept. 24. and now goes to the Board of Legislators for approval.

"This contract, negotiated through the give and take of collective bargaining, is fair to both the union members and our taxpayers," said Astorino. "Since taking office in 2010, I have repeatedly called on our county unions to pay some of the costs of their health care, just like everyone else."

SOA follows the rank and file members of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA) and Teamsters Local 456 to become the third county government union to agree through collective bargaining to new contracts with employee health care contributions    

SOA represents about 120 sergeants, captains and assistant wardens in the county's Department of Correction, which oversees the county jail and penitentiary on the Grasslands Reservation in Valhalla. Previously, the rank and file members of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association and members of Teamsters Local 456 had separately agreed to new contracts with health care contributions. 

Non-union employees, including Astorino, already contribute to their health care costs, under terms of a law Astorino initiated in 2010.

SOA's lead legal counsel, Warren J. Roth of the Law Offices of Bartlett, McDonough and Monaghan LLP., speaking on behalf of the union, stated: "After tough negotiations by both sides, the new agreement provides SOA's membership and the county with contract stability through 2015 and at the same time demonstrates the membership's commitment to work with the county government during these tough economic times by making a significant concession in agreeing to have its members contribute to the cost of healthcare."  

The tentative seven-year pact with SOA calls for wage increases that amount to an average of 2.6 percent a year. The wage increases would be spread over periods that are more than 12 months to lower the cost to the county.

The future salary increases will be provided only to current employees. The county and union have agreed to a reduced salary schedule for new hires. That schedule will  reduce the county's labor costs going forward and will offset increases in salary for current employees.

Astorino again called on the county's other unions, including its largest – the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) –  to follow the example set by COBA , SOA and the Teamsters.

The CSEA has been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2011.  The county's other four unions all have expired contracts as well.  They represent police officers and superior officers, investigators in the District Attorney's Office and nurses.

The agreement with SOA is identical in many ways to the one with COBA announced in June.

Under the terms of the tentative agreement with SOA, members will begin paying a portion of their health care costs as follows:

  • Upon ratification by the Board of Legislators, all current SOA members will contribute 12.5 percent to health insurance costs. (For employees getting health care under the county's self-insured plan administered by POMCO, this would be about $2,600 annually for a family plan or $986 for an individual.)
  • The employee contribution would rise to 13 percent on Jan. 1, 2013; to 14 percent on Jan. 1, 2014; and to 15 percent on Jan. 1, 2015, with caps to make sure that premiums on which contributions are based cannot rise more than 6.5 percent annually.
  • New employees hired will pay 20 percent towards the cost of their health care during their employment and in their retirement.
  • The tentative contract also includes increases in co-payments for doctor visits, emergency room visits and prescription drugs, as well as other cost-containment measures.

Compensation changes  as follows:

  • Effective Jan. 1, 2009, union members will get a 3 percent raise.
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2010, union members will get a 3 percent raise.
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2011, union members will get a 2.5 percent raise.
  • Effective April 1, 2012, union members will get a 2.5 percent raise.
  • Effective July 1, 2013, union members will get a 2.5 percent raise.
  • Effective July 1, 2014, union members will get a 2.5 percent raise.
  • Effective July 1, 2015, union members will get a 2.5 percent raise.
  • The tentative contract includes some increases in night shift differential and longevity pay. 

SOA has been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2009, when its last one expired.