Lawmakers endorse memorandum on new CSEA contract
Kingston aldermen are considering a memorandum of agreement that would provide a new four-year contract for the city’s largest employees union.
During a meeting Tuesday, the Common Council’s Finance and Audit Committee endorsed a resolution approving the memorandum with the city’s Civil Service Employees Association. The agreement would cover Jan. 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2020, providing retroactive pay to current employees. The anticipated cost of the new agreement over the four-year period would be approximately $1.5 million.
The resolution must still be voted on by the full Common Council, which meets again Tuesday, Oct. 2.
Under the agreement, CSEA employees would receive a 2 percent raise for 2017 and a 2 percent raise for 2018, along with an additional $200 for employees at “Step 6,” the highest on the pay scale.
In 2019, the pay scale would be changed to eliminate the existing “Step 1” and renumber Steps 2 through 6 as the new Steps 1 through 5. It would add a new Step 6 at a salary of $1,000 more than the new Step 5.
In 2020, CSEA employees would receive a 2 percent raise, along with an additional $200 for employees at Step 6.
City Comptroller John Tuey said the membership of the CSEA had already voted to approve the memorandum of agreement with the city. He said the CSEA is the city’s largest employees union, covering approximately two-thirds of its workforce.
Kingston’s CSEA includes employees in public works, parks and recreation, Citibus, building safety and others.
The proposed agreement also provides a monetary incentive of up to $600 annually for employees in the Department of Public Works, Parking and Parks and Recreation who report to work during snow and ice events. That is a benefit for employees who were not already required to report to work during those events.
“That’s a proactive way of getting employees in,” Tuey said. He added that
the incentive provision would end on Dec. 31, 2020, unless the city and CSEA reach a new deal.
Additionally, the memorandum clarifies how employees earn sick time and requires new employees to contribute an additional $750 to their healthcare costs above what current employees pay. There are also provisions in the proposed agreement that allow part-time employees to work up to 25 hours a week, an increase from the 17.5 and 20 hours per week they currently work, depending on their position.
Among the other changes are a clarification of what happens in the event City Hall closes and some additional flexibility for employees using sick time.
Earlier this year, the council unanimously adopted a new three-year contract with the Kingston Professional Firefighters Association that provides
annual pay raises of 2 percent, retroactive to 2017. The city is still seeking a new contract with its police union.
In other action, the Finance and Audit Committee moved forward separate resolutions to provide wage increases for “non-aligned employees.”
Tuey said the city has historically provided wage increases for nonaligned employees when a new CSEA contract is reached. He said the nonaligned employees are not part of any employee unions and include department heads. Tuey said he and the mayor are not included.
Under the proposal, non-aligned employees on staff as of Sept. 3 would receive a 2.25 percent increase each year for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Nonaligned employees on staff between Sept. 4 and Dec. 31 would receive 2.25 percent raises in 2019 and 2020.
The raises for the nonaligned employees must also still be voted on by the full council.