SOUTHAMPTON — Paying attention paid off in great measure for CSEA members who had seen their unit strength weakened over time by town leaders.
It’s a lesson union members across the state should study and embrace, because a similar situation may be occurring in your workplace.
The state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) recently ruled in favor of the CSEA Town of Southampton Unit after years of the town’s egregious attempts to undermine CSEA members by continuing to keep many non-union titles.
Town officials had created staff positions that were not part of CSEA’s bargaining unit, yet the duties of these jobs would have placed them in our union.
“Those positions were created to weaken our union,” said CSEA Southampton Unit President Laura Smith. “The positions were around so long that people didn’t even bother to question them.”
After reading an article about another CSEA PERB case in our union’s legal publication, The Advocate, Smith decided to fight back.
She contacted CSEA’s Legal Department and was told by a staff attorney that the unit “absolutely” had grounds to pursue a case through PERB.
“I thought, ‘if they can do that, so can we,’” Smith said.
After PERB’s recent decision, the non-union positions in question will be represented by CSEA.
Bringing the titles under the umbrella of CSEA isn’t the unit’s only victory; unit activists were also able to secure some financial benefits for members.
Members will now have value for any sick time accrued during their service to the town. When they leave, they will get paid out for the time they did not use.
Those who are paying 20 percent of their health care premium will see their payments reduced to 10 percent. The town will pay for all health care costs for future retirees once the workers are vested. This benefit does not apply to those who have previously entered the retirement system.
The new settlement also guarantees proper placement of members on the salary schedule. Before, the town had their own promotional salary schedule in place, which did not include all members. Now, everyone will have the chance to receive the salary increases they deserve.
The town will also be paying for technical and safety training, something the town highway superintendent originally did not want to do.
CSEA members employed by the town are happy with their success in achieving parity for workers.
“I think this is fantastic,” said Peter Collins, a unit activist and 1st vice president of CSEA’s Suffolk County Local. “Having been the past president of this unit, I tip my hat to Laura. She did a great job.”
“Members are saying that this is the best thing we’ve ever done as a unit,” said Smith. “They say they’re happy that we stood up for ourselves.”
— Wendi Bowie
