Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz has announced that an agreement on a new six-year contract has been reached between Erie County and CSEA Local 815 – Erie County Unit. The 6-year pact was approved by CSEA membership by a vote of 1,518 – 887 over three days of voting that concluded on Friday, January 12.

“The agreement reached between Erie County and CSEA Local 815 is fair, reasonable, and represents the culmination of good faith negotiations from both parties,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “I want to thank Commissioner of Labor Relations Steve Miller and his team along with the CSEA Local 815 team for rolling up their sleeves and working out a contract that respects labor and the taxpayers.”

The new contract includes raises of 2.5% in 2020 – 2022, along with a raise of 2.25% in 2019. In 2018 the contract will add $2,100 to members’ base wage along with a 2% raise and $500 of retroactive pay. Among other highlights of the agreement are the addition of Health Care plan options, a health insurance premium contribution for active employees and retirees hired prior to August 2014, and an extension of health care for employees on maternity leave. Other upgrades include expanded bereavement leave, inclusion of part-time personnel as part of the bargaining unit, and improvements to shift differential and vacation time sell-back policies, among other items. Since taking office in 2012, the Poloncarz administration has successfully negotiated 11 contracts with bargaining units representing county employees.

The new agreement covers the period between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2022. There are 2,400 CSEA Local 815 members employed by Erie County, along with an additional 1,500 members employed by the Erie County Medical Center Corporation (“ECMCC”), Erie Community College (“ECC”), and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

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