Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz has announced that a collective bargaining agreement on a new five-year contract has been reached between Erie County and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (“AFSCME”) Local 1095, Council 66, AFL-CIO. The agreement, approved by membership by a vote of 644-67, covers “blue collar unit” employees at ECMC, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, and SUNY Erie. The agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2022 and includes a bump in shift differential for second- and third-shift workers as well as a $2 addition to members’ base hourly wage this year. AFSCME membership will then receive raises of 3.5% in 2023 and 2.5% each year thereafter for the length of the contract. Unit workers at SUNY Erie are not affected by the wage provisions of the new agreement but are by all other provisions; SUNY Erie and AFSCME Local 1095 will reengage in these negotiations before the beginning of 2023.

“The new collective bargaining agreement reached between Erie County and AFSCME Local 1095 is fair, reasonable and respectful of both labor and county taxpayers,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz.  “I thank Commissioner of Labor Relations Josh Pennel and his team along with AFSCME Local 1095 leadership for their work in negotiating this agreement. My administration takes labor negotiations very seriously and reaching a successful conclusion is good news for all.”

Among other provisions in the contract AFSCME membership agreed to shift flexibility, job group upgrades for certain positions, and phasing out of sick leave bonus payouts. Additionally, members of the unit will receive a paid Juneteenth holiday.

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