GLOVERSVILLE – After an executive session Tuesday with city labor attorney Bryan Goldberger, the Common Council unanimously passed a resolution establishing a new contract with the city’s transit union, the Teamsters.
Sixth Ward Councilman Wrandy Siarkowski made the motion to approve the terms of the memorandum agreement with the Teamsters Local 294. It was approved by all members of the council with no additional discussion.
Mayor Dayton King and Goldberger said the new contract includes a 2 percent raise effective in March, when a new health insurance plan takes effect.
“The raise is going to be tied to the change in healthcare,” Goldberger said. “Under the tentative agreement when the healthcare changes, that ties in to when the raise will take effect.”
The Teamsters’ previous contract expired at the end of 2010 and the new contract covers Jan. 1, 2011, to Dec. 31, 2013.
“The Teamsters switched their insurance to a much less expensive healthcare [plan], saving the city money,” King said after the meeting. “Over the next three years, it should save the city about $40,000.”
The teamsters represent nine transit employees including six full-time and three part-time employees in the city.
“This is a good case of cooperation between the city and [the] Teamsters,” Goldberger said.
Teamsters 294 Business Agent Thomas Quackenbush said the union is pleased that an agreement finally has been reached between the transit employees and the city.
“The Teamsters in our unit understand the importance of having a partnership with the city. We have a very small group there,” Quackenbush said. “It is a main component of the city because of the transit system, and I think we are a very important part of the city.”
“We still have a lot of work ahead of us because the contract runs out in December and we don’t want the city workers or the city to go at it for three more years,” Quackenbush said.
The city still has three other unions awaiting new contracts, including the Police Benevolent Association, Gloversville Firefighters Association and Civil Service Employees Association unions.
