To the Editor:

It is unfortunate that negotiations between the town of Berne and the union-represented employees in the highway department have moved into the printed press and social media sites. There are some misconceptions and lack of information that should be addressed.

In accordance with New York State public sector labor law, labor agreements are to be negotiated at the bargaining table between each party’s representatives.  In fact, on March 18, 2016, the representatives from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 158 and the town of Berne did negotiate a “tentative agreement” that called for the reinstatement of the two employees who were laid off on March 12.  The town also agreed to a “no-layoff clause” for the remainder of 2016.

This tentative agreement also provided the employees with:

— 1. Annual wage increases of 2 percent in 2016, 2017, and 2018;

— 2. One-hundred percent funding of the medical insurance deductible;

— 3. The employee’s ability to use vacation leave in half-day increments; and

— 4. The employee’s ability to convert overtime into compensatory time off.

All “union gains.”

The only concession asked for by the town was a limit on the number of “four-day workweeks” in a given year, specifically:

 “The Superintendent of Highways shall designate eight workweeks (and no more) of each calendar year in which employees are scheduled to work four ten-hour days rather than five eight-hour days.  The Town Board may authorize additional workweeks of four ten-hour days during each calendar year, which shall not set a precedent for the future.”

Nevertheless, on Thursday, March 31, the union’s representative notified the town board that the bargaining unit “rejected the tentative agreement.”  Since this tentative agreement was rejected, we can now make the terms public.

The union’s representative did not give a reason for the rejection but said that he would meet with the bargaining unit "as soon as possible.”  The town board will continue to assess the town’s options while it awaits further information from the union’s representative.

Kevin Crosier

Berne Town Supervisor

Editor’s note: See related stories about the lay offs and a protest that followed.