Managers won’t pay more for health insurance

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Employees hired for nonunion management positions in Ulster County will continue to pay less for their health insurance than those hired for union positions.

The Ulster County Legislature this week defeated a resolution, 13-8, that would have required nonunion managers hired after Sept. 1 to pay 20 percent toward the cost of their health insurance premiums.

Currently, those employees pay 10 percent toward their premiums.

If the measure had passed, it would have put nonunion managers on par with the county’s unionized workforce and elected officials.

Between 2012 and 2015, county legislators approved contracts with the four labor unions that represent the county’s rank-and-file workers that included the higher health care premium share for all new employees.

In 2018, legislators adopted a measure requiring all county legislators and other elected county officials to contribute 20 percent toward the health care premiums.

Legislator Joseph Maloney, who sponsored the measure, said the change would create equity among the county’s workforce.

Voting against the resolution, he said, would send a message to rank-andfile employees that they are worth less than their bosses.

“If you vote against this, the next time you see an officer or a social worker, justify their boss making more than them and contributing half that they contribute as they literally risk their lives for us,” said Maloney, DSaugerties.

Other legislators, though, said rather that raise the cost of health care premiums for nonunion managers, the county should look to reduce the cost for all of its employees.

“I want equity, but at lower contributions for everybody,” said Legislator Kathy Nolan, D-Shandaken.

Legislator Manna Jo Greene, D-Rosendale, agreed. “We are absolutely moving in the wrong direction,” she said.

Legislature Minority Leader Ken Ronk, RWallkill, said the county should wait until a compensation study that’s underway is completed before making changes to health care costs not mandated by labor contracts.

All Republicans along with Democrats David Donaldson, D-Kingston, Greene and Nolan voted against the resolution.

Legislator Julius Collins, D-Ellenville, was absent.