The CSEA union local that represents the largest number of Monroe County workers has declared a contract impasse, and is asking the state to appoint a mediator to help them reach an agreement.
This particular local, Unit 7400, represents about 1,700 workers, including some employees at the Probation and Sheriff’s departments and Monroe Community Hospital.
Spokesman Ove Overmyer says their last contract expired in December of 2013, and he says the workers have not received pay increases equal to the rate of inflation since 2005.
“We thought with the new county administration we’d have an opportunity to negotiate a new deal but we were met with the same talking points with regards to not moving on some of the issues that were being negotiated.”
Union officials say the two sides were going to meet in March, but that the county then canceled the bargaining session saying that the county's position had not changed since the last meeting in November of last year.
Monroe County spokesman Bill Napier issued this response:
"The County respects the collective bargaining process, and negotiations conducted should be at the table. The County welcomes the appointment of a mediator to assist CSEA in reaching an agreement that recognizes the strong fiscal pressures facing our taxpayers.”
