March 19, 2013 -- County Executive Robert P. Astorino Tuesday announced that the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) has become the fourth union to agree with Westchester County on a labor contract that includes – for the first time – contributions to the cost of their health care benefits.

The four-year contract covers about 50 nurses who work for the county and was ratified by the union on Friday, March 15.

"I want to thank the nurses union for working with me to settle this contract under terms that are fair to both the union and the taxpayers," said Astorino. "Since taking office in 2010, I have repeatedly called on our county government unions to pay a portion of their health care costs – just like everyone else does – and now four of our unions have stepped up and chipped in."

NYSNA joins the rank and file members of Teamsters Local 456, the Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA), and the Corrections Superior Officers Association (SOA) to become the fourth county government union to agree through collective bargaining to new contracts with employee health care contributions.  Astorino also initiated a law, upon taking office in 2010, that called for all non-represented management and elected officials, including the County Executive, to make health care contributions.

The NYSNA contract is unique in that salary increases will be completely financed through savings obtained from having the union move from the county's self-insurance plan administered by POMCO to the NYSNA Trust, a less expensive insurance plan available to nurses in New York State.  Retired members of the union will remain in POMCO with no change in their benefit package.

The new contract calls for a zero increase in salary in 2012 and 2013, a 2 percent increase for 2014, and a 1.5 percent increase in 2015.  Health care contributions begin on January 1, 2014.  The contract is expected to save $107,000 over the remainder of this year and $297,000 over the life of the contract.

"This agreement is an example of how a jobs for savings contract works for both sides," said Astorino.

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

The CSEA has been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2011.