Bay Shore Secretarial Unit Members Unanimously Approve 5 Year Contract
With annual wage increases and annual longevity improvements, UPSEU members in Bay Shore voted 69 to 0 to approve a new five year agreement. Wage increases for ten month employees, additional summer hour days, and an improved new vision plan highlighted the remainder of the agreement.
In an attempt to reach an agreement settlement, the district reached out to have a limited issue negotiation so that the focus was placed on those central issues important to the district and the unit. The process worked due to the district historically working with its employees in the unit to achieve fair agreements. The employees will pay 1% more in health premiums beginning in the fifth year of the agreement and retirees will pay one half of 1% more of the premiums.
“We were fortunate to have an excellent negotiating team led by our Unit President Joni McLaughlin,” stated UPSEU President Kevin E. Boyle, Jr., who advised the team during the process. Joni McLaughlin, commenting on their teamwork at the ratification meeting stated, “This was truly a team effort with all team members working together to achieve this agreement which was done before it expired.”
Mahopac Central School District Supervisors Join UPSEU
After years of representation by the Teamsters, supervisory employees employed by Mahopac Central School District decided that a change was necessary. With dues over $60.00 and no visible representation in the workplace by Teamster representatives, the unit banded together for change. They turned to UPSEU, as the clerical unit did last year, leaving CSEA/AFSCME. Meetings with Executive Vice President/Regional Director Gary M. Hickey affirmed their decision to leave the Teamsters and to join UPSEU.
After UPSEU filed a representation petition with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) the Teamsters, seeing the handwriting on the wall, decided to disclaim interest, thereby walking away from the unit.
UPSEU, with unanimous support of the membership, was certified as the representative by PERB. We look forward to going to work for our newest Mahopac members and we welcome them to the UPSEU family.