News

Local 1359 Contract Update #6
(November, 2007)

Bargaining between the Local and the state of New York on a successor agreement to the one which expired on April 1, 2007 has intensified in light of the recent agreement between the Employer and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA).

The Local is meeting with the state through-out the week of November 12, 2007 with the hope of reaching an agreement at the earliest possible date. The employer is expected to withdraw most, if not all, of its extremely onerous health care proposals which would have resulted, if enacted, in huge increases in health care costs to our members. In light of such withdrawals, the path has become much clearer and the possibility of reaching a collective bargaining agreement much brighter.

The employer must still, however, provide a much more specific response to the Local's comprehensive list of contractual demands, which includes many non-monetary proposals. Further information gathering and discussions between the parties concerning all proposals are ongoing.

As previously indicated, the Local's negotiating committee has worked diligently to date to achieve a beneficial new agreement on behalf of all members and is prepared to work as rapidly as we can with the employer to achieve a mutually satisfying successor agreement.

Updates on the status of negotiations will be periodically provided to all members as relevant information becomes available. If you are unable to attend a general membership meeting, please check the Local's website at www.local1359.org and look under the "News Headlines" column for the latest information.

The Local 1359 Negotiating Team consists of President Ralph F. Carbone, Vice-President Dennis Ifill, Treasurer Darryl Adams, Secretary Charmaine Hardaway and Executive Board member Mushtaq Ali. From District Council 37 are negotiator Michele Trester, legal counsel Alan Brown and benefits expert Willie Chang.