New Bargaining Agreement Ratified with Blue Collar Employees Union

The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislator Anne Koreman was excused), ratified a new six-year collective bargaining agreement with the County’s Civil Service Employees’ Association (CSEA) Blue Collar Unit, retroactive to January 1, 2018 and extending through December 31, 2023.   Union membership ratified the new tentative agreement January 7.  Among provisions of the new contract, annual salary increases ranging from 2-2.5% (2% for 2018 and 2019; an increase aligning Blue Collar pay grades with those of the White Collar union in 2019; a 2% increase in 2020; 2.5% in 2021; 2.25% in 2022; and 2% in 2023).  Also included are enhancements in longevity payments for employees with at least 5 years of service; and in health insurance, moving all Blue Collar employees to the Health Consortium Platinum Plan as of the beginning of 2020, where participants will have the opportunity to participate in a voluntary wellness program which offers cash incentives for achieving annual wellness targets.