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Legislature approves contract with county workers

Chris Caya/WBFO News

A new contract for 2,600 Erie County employees was unanimously approved without discussion Thursday by the county Legislature. The previous contract for CSEA Local 815 expired in 2006. The union ratified the deal in late July. The new contract extends to 2016. It includes raises of roughly two percent over the next three years, with a giveback to the county in shared health insurance costs.

Legislature Chairman John Mills says it's a fair contract for the workers and for county taxpayers.

"I think it's a fair contract. When you go eight years without a contract, everybody gets a little antsy," Mills said following the vote. "The givebacks are reasonably substantial so that we don't have a big burden going forward."

County Executive Mark Poloncarz applauded the agreement in a statement, calling it "fair and equitable"  and saying it is "cognizant of economic realities in Erie County."

“Open, good-faith discussions between both parties resulted in a contract that included concessions from both parties and will ultimately save Erie County hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs in the long run," Poloncarz said.

During the special session, the Legislature also unanimously approved authorization for the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority to borrow on behalf of the county. Mills says the Control Board's superior bond rating will save taxpayers roughly $1 million dollars in financing.