It's back to the drawing board for Erie County and CSEA Local 815. A tentative agreement between the county and its largest union has been overwhelmingly rejected. A statement issued by the local says "the membership has spoken" by casting 1,296 no votes to 570 yes votes. Local 815 leaders declined an interview request.
The deal included raises totaling 11.5 percent over five years. But workers would give up one paid holiday, summer hours, and in four years they would have been required to start paying 7.5 percent towards their healthcare.
This is the third tentative agreement voted down by CSEA 815 members since the last contract expired in 2006.
“I am disappointed that this tentative agreement has been rejected. This is the third time that a tentative agreement has been rejected by this bargaining unit, once under the prior administration and now twice with my administration. I will be discussing next actions with Director of Labor Relations David Palmer and others,” County Executive Mark Poloncarz said in a statement Friday.
