County approves 1-year labor deal with CSEA – 2% hourly raises, longer work week

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature approved a one-year labor agreement with about 160 members of the CSEA union.

The deal gives the county workers 2 percent pay increases in their hourly rate. Workers also will see the minimum work week go from 35 hours to 37.5. That will result in another 7 percent pay increase.

Some county employees also will have the option to work 40 hours a week, which would represent a 14 percent pay increase over the 35 hour work weeks.

The longer hours will help fill the gap from vacant positions. County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch said about a dozen positions tend to be open. The extra hours for county staff will Orleans keep up with services for the community.

The county offices will open a half hour earlier beginning Monday, April 14, at 8:30 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. The summer office hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The extra hours among the existing workforce also will save the county on the costs of healthcare policies, which Welch said are now costing about $53,000 for family policies with $5,000 deductibles.

The county and CSEA typically reach three-year labor agreements. The one-year deal gives CSEA members and the county a chance to see if the cost for health insurance will come down.

This labor agreement is with the bargaining unit that doesn’t include management, Sheriff’s deputies or the staff at the jail.