The following information was provided to WNYLaborToday.com by Lynn Miller, communications specialist for the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) in Buffalo:

(MAYVILLE/CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY) - After two years, countless strategy sessions and almost 70 negotiation sessions with county management, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members employed by Chautauqua County have overwhelmingly ratified a contract that maintains important wage and health benefits.

The agreement runs through December 31st, 2011.

"The members of this unit sent a very clear message to the contract negotiating team," said Chautauqua County Unit President Rose Conti. "The team and (Labor Relations Specialist) Penny Gleason dug in and fought hard for what the members wanted. I commend them for their hard work and focus."

The new contract includes wage increases and retroactivity. It also caps some health insurance contributions and improves coverage in some areas.

The following is a portion of a news report that recently ran in the Dunkirk Observer, Dunkirk's daily newspaper:

(DUNKIRK) - The vast majority of county employees will receive three-percent pay raises in 2010 and 2011 while contributing no more money toward their health insurance premiums as part of a four-year labor contract ratified by the Chautauqua County Legislature.

The contract is with the Civil Service Employees Association, Unit 6300, which represents more than 900 county employees. The contract won overwhelming support among union members with 90 percent voting in favor of it. For county legislators, the vote was only one short of being unanimous.

By agreeing to switch from Univera to Blue Cross Blue Shield and by requiring bigger co-pays from CSEA members, county officials do hope to see some savings with the lion's share of premiums that is covered by the county.

Rose Conti, CSEA president, expressed gratitude toward lawmakers for approving the contract. After the short legislative session came to a close, she expressed satisfaction with the deal hammered out between county officials and union leaders, saying they had the faltering economy in mind.

''They know what the economy is. They understand it. They're taxpayers too,'' Ms. Conti said, referring to CSEA members.

The agreement was hammered out after 18 months of negotiations between union leaders and county officials. Specifically, the contract includes a retroactive 47-cent pay raise for 2008, a three-percent raise for 2009 and 2010, and a 60-cent raise for 2011 while employees' share of their health insurance premiums will stay the same at roughly 15 percent.