SUNBURY - Full-time employees covered under a new contract approved by AFSCME Residual 86 and Northumberland County will receive a $1 per hour pay increase this year, but they will also contribute considerably more toward their health care insurance over the next two years.
Paying more for health care coverage has been a sticking point in several county union negotiations.
In the case of Residual 86, which covers 77 transportation, maintenance, weatherization and clerical employees, the union approved the contract April 8 and county commissioners ratified it at their meeting Tuesday.
The contract is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010, but no wage or insurance contribution changes were instituted for that first year.
For this year, in addition to the $1 per hour raise for full-time employees, which was effective April 8, part-time workers received a 50-cent per hour increase. In 2012, full-time and part-time will be granted 50-cent and 25-cent per hour pay increases, respectively.
Terms detailed
Terms of the new union contract, passed by Commissioners Vinny Clausi, Merle Phillips and Frank Sawicki without discussion, were released by Human Resources Director Joseph Picarelli.
Beginning April 8, employees are paying 15 percent of the monthly premium toward hospital and medical insurance. The former contract required all employees to pay $20 per month for health care.
Beginning January 2012, employees will pay the lesser of 20 percent (depending on the premium cost) toward their elected coverages or the cap listed below per month:
- Single coverage - $73.71 per month in 2011 and $88.45 per month cap in 2012.
- Two-party coverage - $146.98 per month in 2011 and $176.37 per month cap in 2012.
- Family coverage - $183.62 per month in 2011 and $220.34 per month cap in 2012.
Each employee who attains retirement status will receive $15 per day for each day of unused accumulated sick leave. The former contract paid $10 per day for unused accumulated sick leave for employees who reached retirement.
Part-time employees will earn three days of sick leave after having completed one year of employment. Sick leave must be used in the subsequent year of employment and the days do not accrue. Part-time employees will earn three days of sick leave for each subsequent year of employment, but at no time will those days accrue. Upon receiving full-time employment, any sick days not used will be lost.
The county may change insurance companies during the term of the agreement provided the insurance coverage remains comparable to the current plan, according to language in the contract. The contract requires union and management officials to meet prior to any changes being imposed.
Based upon the Federal Family Medical Leave Act, an eligible employee is entitled to a total of 12 work weeks of family unpaid leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons:
- The birth of a son or daughter and in order to care for the child within the first 12 months of life.
- Placement of a son or daughter with him or her for adoption or foster care within the first 12 months of placement.
- In order to care for his or her spouse, son, daughter or parent, if this person has a serious health condition.
- His or her own health condition that makes him or her unable to perform the functions of his or her position.
Rejected in October
The union members, who had been working under a three-year contract that expired Dec. 31, 2009, had rejected the county's offer on a 38-2 vote on Oct. 28.
Three other union contracts involving county workers are expired and negotiations ongoing.
Forty-four county employees who are members of Teamsters Local 764, which includes adult and juvenile probation departments and domestic relations office, began paying more for health insurance coverage through a contract approved last fall. Costs rose 14.3 percent for single coverage (from $35 to $40 per month), 71.4 percent for two-party coverage ($35 to $60 per month) and 100 percent for family coverage ($35 to $70 per month) in 2010 and increase an additional $100 per month for 2011 and 2012.
Rates for non-union county employees approved in 2010 include $108 for a single person, $175 for two-party coverage, and $241 for family.
Parking lease OK'd
In other business at Tuesday's meeting, commissioners: - Approved a lease agreement with Mertz Real Estate for 60 additional parking spaces at the Human Services Complex, 231 Reagan St., Sunbury. The county will pay $25 for each parking spot or a total of $1,500 per month under the lease agreement.
- Made an annual contribution of $4,774 to the Lower Anthracite Transportation System.