(MAYVILLE, NEW YORK) – After Waiting Three-and-a-Half Years With No Results, the Leaders of the Union Representing 950 Government Workers in Chautauqua County say Enough is Enough and it’s Time They Receive a New Contract.

Dozens of Members and Supporters of Civil Service Employees Association  (CSEA) Unit 6300 Rallied in Mayville Wednesday Night (July 22nd) Prior to the Meeting of County Legislators in an Attempt to Draw Attention for the Need of a New Contract.

Union Members - Which Includes Highway Department Employees, Social Service Workers, Health Department Workers and Others - Have Been Working Under the Terms of Their Old Collective Bargaining Agreement Since January 1st, 2012.

Local Unit President Steve Skidmore Spoke to WRFA Wednesday Night and said the Group is at an Impasse With the County Over a New Contract, and That His Union Wanted to Raise Awareness and Support: “We’re Out Here Because We Haven’t Had a New Contract in Forty-Three Months.  We’re Frustrated.  We Tried to Show the County How to Save Millions of Dollars in Insurance (Costs) and They Seem to ‘Walk Away From it.’”

At Issue in Negotiations, Skidmore said, is Health Insurance and the Amount of Money the County Could be Saving in the Line Item if it Were To Go With a Plan Supported by the Union: “The ‘Sticking Point’ is How We Fund the Insurance and How We Could Save So Much Money Over the Past Few Years and Into the Future.  It’s Money Taxpayers Could Save - Not Only is it Money That Could Help Us Get Raises, But it Could Save Taxpayers Money.  We’ve Had Our Own Insurance Company and Another Insurance Company Give Presentations, Showing the County Where it Could Save Money and They Still Don’t Want to Do it.”

County Executive Vince Horrigan says Contract Negotiations Have Been Ongoing Since Before he Took Office at the Start of 2014 and That he’s Made it a Top Priority Since Being Elected.

Horrigan Added That While the Two Sides are Currently at an Impasse, he’s Confident a New Deal Can Be Reached With the Help of a Mediator: “While I Can’t Comment on Specifics, I Do Think a Mediator Will Help Us ‘Iron Out’ the Perceived Differences.”

You Can Read This Labor News Report in its Entirety at: http://www.wrfalp.com/csea-holds-rally-for-new-contract-prior-to-wednesdays-legislature-meeting/