Monroe County— On July 24, CSEA officials and staff held an informational meeting at the IBEW Union Hall in Rochester to discuss the status of pending litigation with regard to unilateral changes to diminished health care benefits negotiated with Monroe County. CSEA Attorney Jennifer Zegarelli, CSEA Western Region President Flo Tripi and Labor Relations Specialist Robbie Ellis lead a two-hour question and answer session to educate more than 200 local retirees on the status of the legal proceedings.
Over time and without advanced notice, previously negotiated health care benefits earned by retirees from Monroe Community College, the retirees from the Sheriffs Command and Support Staff and the retirees from Monroe County Unit 7400 have been significantly altered. The retirees believe the changes violate good faith bargaining and do not meet the intended spirit of the insurance language provisions set forth upon when employees retired under their workplace contracts.
In recent years, CSEA filed legal papers challenging these actions on behalf of members to hold them harmless. Since 2009, CSEA has filed several grievances and improper practice charges against Monroe County leading up to these court proceedings. Many of the attendees at the July 24 meeting were signatories to pending litigation and were thankful for the meeting update.
“I can appreciate the fact that CSEA is representing us regarding these unethical and possibly illegal actions taken by Monroe County’s administration,” said former Monroe County Unit President Cris Zaffuto.
Zaffuto added, “I don’t have the personal resources to take on Monroe County myself– but collectively as a union we can do this. Together we can see this through with the hope that it sends a message to county lawmakers and administrative law judges everywhere that negotiated collective bargaining agreements are a done deal. You can’t change terms and conditions of what we agreed to after the fact. What they are doing to us is morally and ethically bankrupt.”
While several retirees who attended the meeting admit it may take some time for justice to prevail, they are not giving up hope and are banding together. “We know this is an uphill battle,” said Western Region President Tripi. “But it’s one worth fighting for,” she said.
The CSEA Legal Department is now in the process of filing one appeal with the NYS Appellate Court, 4th Department and has other proceedings in lower courts.
-Story & photos by Ove Overmyer
