The Mineola Village Board ratified its village employee contract earlier this month, ending three years of negotiations with the United Public Service Employees Union (UPSEU). The contract is retroactive to 2012 and expires on May 31, 2018. The union did not return calls for comment.
The agreement settles a back and forth tussle between the village and UPSEU, which saw numerous hearings, grievances and meetings dating back three years ago.
“We were going back and forth a lot,” Mayor Scott Strauss said. “[UPSEU was] doing the best thing they could do for the union and we’re doing the best we can for our employees and the residents and business owners. I’m glad we reached a deal.”
The six-year contract will see Mineola employees receive a 2.5 percent salary increase in 2015 along with 2.6 and 2.7 percent bumps in 2016 and 2017, respectively, according to the agreement. Retroactive increases of 2.25 percent were implemented for 2012 and 2013 as well as a 2.5 percent uptick in 2014.
“All sides seem to be on board with it to get it past us and move on,” Strauss said. “Our village staff works hard.”
The agreement says the village will pay full health insurance premiums for employees who began working in Mineola before Jan. 1, 1989. Workers employed after that date but before Jan. 1, 2015, will receive a 90 contribution from Mineola to their premiums with the last 10 percent coming out of the employee’s pocket.
The village will cover 85 percent of health benefits for new hires after Jan. 1 and the remaining 15 percent being paid for by the worker.
“I thank everyone involved for their patience over the last few years as they worked it out,” Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira said. “I think this is a fair contract. Our employees continue to do the exemplary work that we expect of them.”
Retiree health benefits received a considerable face-lift after negotiations. According to the new agreement, employees hired before Jan. 1, 1995 and worked more than 10 years in the village, will have monthly health rates “as set forth by the New York State Health Insurance Plan paid for by the village in retirement.”
Employees after that date with 15 years in Mineola would receive the benefit after retiring. Half-time workers would be provided the break if they contribute 50 percent of the costs to Mineola’s premium.
“For many months our negotiation team has been negotiating with the union and we have come to a recommended proposal to [the village board] for acceptance,” village attorney John Spellman said.
New hires after Jan. 1 would also need to work 15 years to receive the retirement benefit, but the village would only have to pay the existing rate on the employee’s last day of active service.
“I appreciate the efforts of all involved in getting this settled,” Strauss said.
Retiree health benefits were the subject of contention last May when the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) ordered Mineola to repay medical insurance costs deducted from retired employees after August 2011, according to court documents.
A major change in the then Teamsters-negotiated contract stipulated employees hired after 1988 would contribute a portion of their health insurance costs through payroll deductions. The village, however, neglected to take those deductions for 17 years until 2005.
Workers filed a grievance through their Teamsters union. An arbitration award in June 2006 found in favor of the village. That’s when the workers changed unions to UPSEU.
“We focused on creating less problems for the taxpayer,” Spellman said.
It wasn’t until August 2011 that an employee hired after 1988, in this case Peter Saia, reached retirement, according to the documents. The village began taking from his retirement pay the same health insurance deductions being paid by active employees.
Current employees took the issue to UPSEU, which on Jan. 5, 2012 filed a complaint with the state PERB against Mineola.
The court in April 2014 ruled in favor of the workers and Mineola had to continue to pay 100 percent of retirees’ healthcare premiums until it negotiated the new contract.
