“We fought a lot of concessions the employer wanted us to accept, such as drastic cuts in our benefits package and a large increase in the cost of affordable health insurance but we stayed strong.” – Dave Pitoni, MCWA Unit President. Photos by Ove Overmyer, CSEA ©2018.
Rochester — After 40 months of difficult and oftentimes contentious negotiating, aided by a fact-finding report that both sides agreed upon, the CSEA represented employees at the Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA) are finally celebrating a hard fought contract victory that will bring some much needed relief to a never quit workforce.
The bargaining unit is part of Monroe County Local 828 and hosts a diverse and talented cast of employees who work as laborers, distribution servicemen, clerks, electricians, meter service technicians, heavy motor equipment operators and vehicle fleet maintenance mechanics among other job titles.
The members ratified their contract by more than a two-to-one margin in April. The MCWA Board of Directors took the final step and unanimously approved the deal on May 10 at their monthly board meeting.
Dave Pitoni, Forman of Distribution and the Unit President of MCWA since 2011, says the negotiations were difficult and complete with sleepless nights.
Pitoni said, “We fought a lot of concessions the employer wanted us to accept, such as drastic cuts in our benefits package and a large increase in the cost of affordable health insurance but we stayed strong. We were able to diplomatically beat back those cuts and takeaways by utilizing all our resources from the CSEA staff departments, including contract administration and our legal department– and our Labor Relations Specialists were indispensable.”
Pitoni, who has worked at the water authority for more than two decades, added that he and his coworkers commitment to the residents and customers they serve drive everything they do– and they kept that in the forefront of all of the negotiations and external communications during the stalled contract talks. He says having a never quit attitude makes all the difference in the world. He explained, “We were persistent if anything. We never gave up on the process.”
According to the 2018 MCWA fiscal budget, the total operating revenue exceeds $70.9 million and serves more than 200,000 customer accounts in Western New York. It also provides the City of Rochester with up to 26 million gallons per day for distribution within its retail service area. Pitoni says knowing the financials and budget data of the employer helped with generating compromises.
“We knew our talking points and proposals were valid and reasonable. It also helped when our legal department filed FOIL requests on our behalf. While the process seemed like it would never end, we trusted the calendar and sure enough we got it done. I’m glad we finally came to an agreement while providing a wage package that allows our members to maintain and prosper during these uncertain economic times.”
Employees covered under the new deal will be able to maintain affordable health care coverage for themselves and their families. However, new hires can expect to pay a slightly higher percentage of future health care cost premiums.
The new contract also includes a generous across the board wage increase and other enhancements such as positive changes to the emergency call-out system, vacations can be taken half-days and an added longevity tier.
The eight year deal expires December 31, 2022.
-Ove Overmyer
