ALBANY — After protracted negotiations, CSEA and the New York State Canal Corp. have reached a tentative agreement on a 10-year contract that runs retroactively from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2022.
The agreement, which covers more than 400 Canal Corp. employees, includes raises in the last seven years, including retroactive payments, a lump sum bonus, an added service award payment for 20 years of service, establishment of a leave exchange program to be applied towards health insurance premiums, a new provision for prescription safety glasses, increased safety boot allowances and improvements for seasonal employees.
It maintains dental, vision and health insurance benefits, with incremental increases in employee premium contributions over the last five years of the agreement.
“CSEA worked hard to reach an agreement we believe is in everyone’s best interest,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “This tentative agreement is reasonable and responsible for the long-term, and recognizes the value and importance of Canal employees who make the system work every day.”
“Canal employees are proud of the work they perform in all kinds of conditions,” said CSEA Deputy Director of State Operations Guy Dugas, the union’s chief negotiator. “They deserve a fair contract.”
CSEA members employed by the Canal Corp. maintain and operate New York’s 524-mile canal system that links the Hudson River with Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes, the Niagara River and Lake Erie; it passes through 25 counties and is near more than 200 of our state’s communities.
The state’s canal system includes 57 locks, 20 lift bridges, 22 reservoirs, 203 buildings, 114 dams and over 1,500 other structures. Dating back to 1918, much of the historic equipment requires substantial maintenance and the skills of often second and third generation canal employees.
The agreement is subject to ratification by CSEA members employed by the Canal Corp., as well as approval by the Canal Board.
Contract ratification meetings will be held across the state for each CSEA Canal Local over the next few weeks.
A ratification vote is scheduled for March.
