GUILDERLAND — More than a dozen highway workers showed up at the Guilderland Town Board meeting on June 17 to urge the board to grant “voluntary recognition” as they seek to unionize.

A majority of the 43 operators, laborers, and mechanics in the potential bargaining unit have signed cards choosing the Civil Service Employees Association as their bargaining representative, the union told The Enterprise in April. 

All five board members voiced support for efforts to unionize.

Supervisor Peter Barber said the delay is because the Public Employee Relations Board “has possession of the cards and, if a majority of the cards are determined by PERB to be valid, then I will ask the board to voluntarily recognize CSEA.”

If the board recognizes CSEA, as all five board members indicated on June 17 that they would, then the town and the union would begin the process of working out a contract.

In April, The Enterprise asked Joel Taylor, one of four highway workers leading the union drive, if, with an all-Democratic town board, he foresaw any pushback with the unionization effort. Taylor focused his answer on management in the highway department. “Whenever it’s been mentioned,” he said of unionizing, “management has not been thrilled with the idea.”

Four workers addressed the board on June 17, each wearing a blue T-shirt that said, in capital letters, “CSEA: Organize for Power.”

Todd Hubbard, an Operator 3, spoke first, saying, “The majority of us at the highway department have come together to form a union with CSEA. We are organized and have a voice for better working conditions, a fair promotion process, and a fair way to deal with unfair management.

“We have requested voluntary recognition on April 8 … We hope that the legal delays are over and the board passes a resolution for voluntary recognition.”

Taylor, an Operator 1, spoke next, telling the board, “In 100-degree-plus weather, snow, ice, storms, and other dangerous conditions, we work to keep our roads safe, clean, and passable. We are here today because we care about our future and the future of our co-workers. We matter. Our safety matters. Our families matter. This community matters. We should matter to this board, not only as employees of the town but also as your constituents. As such, we respectfully request that the board grant us voluntary recognition tonight.”

Kyle Van Patten, an Operator 2, followed Taylor, saying he has worked for the town for 11 years. 

“We are eager to move forward with our union and partner with you to ensure our highway department becomes a safe, fair, and secure place to work, while being mindful of the resources of our community. We are standing up for our rights to form a union. We look forward to this democratic board standing with us and granting us voluntary recognition tonight.”

Johnny Boyer, a laborer, said, “As a young parent, job security, a safe workplace, and a union contract with secure benefits are important to me and my family. We deserve a voice at work and request that the board end the unnecessary legal delays and vote ‘yes’ on the resolution for voluntary recognition.”

Robyn Gray, who frequently addresses the board as the chairwoman of the Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth, said, “Many of Guilderland’s workers are already unionized … I would certainly encourage the town board to go ahead and move forward with the resolution to allow this particular department to be unionized. I think that works in everybody’s best interest. It gives them protection, and it gives you protection.”

Her comments, like those of the workers, were applauded by people seated in the gallery.

“I think every worker deserves a union,” Councilman Jacob Crawford responded.

Barber then explained PERB’s card-counting process.

“I think we can all speak unanimously,” said Barber, “saying we will all back voluntary recognition.”

Barber went on, “It’s not a legal delay … We have to wait for PERB to make a determination that there is majority support for the union.”

Barber said the town had been through the process before, with the Teamsters. “PERB looked at the cards and ultimately determined there was not a majority ….,” he said of the effort to unionize with the Teamsters.

“And then we had CSEA come along,” Barber went on. “We had two unions competing for it, and part of the requirement was that PERB wanted to make sure that the Teamsters still didn’t have an interest in forming this union. So that was the delay … The two unions needed to figure out who was going to represent these fine ladies and gentlemen out here.”

Barber concluded that, once he hears from PERB, which he expects within a week or so, “I will notify the board of whatever the vote was, and then ask the board support for voluntary recognition.”

Prompted by Crawford who noted the board’s next meeting is scheduled for July 15, Barber said, if a town board resolution is required, “We might schedule a special meeting just to take care of it before then.”

Board support

“I just want to thank all the employees that spoke this evening,” said Crawford. “It takes a lot of courage, and you all deserve a lot of credit for standing up for this board this evening in public comment … I personally fully support every one of you having the opportunity to have a union.”

Councilman Gustavo Santos said, “I’m also a union member, and I certainly recognize, you know, the unions and, like Jake said, thank you. You know, it takes a lot of strength to come to the microphone.”

Councilwoman Amanda Beedle agreed. “It’s very hard to get up and speak up against something that people weren’t sure if they’re going to get recognized or not. We are all big union supporters and most of my family is union, so I understand the benefits.”

Beedle said she was grateful Barber would set up a special meeting to make the recognition “even sooner, because we’re not against you by any means. But due process is due process, unfortunately.”

Deputy Supervisor Christine Napierski said, “I’ll just add you have my support as well, and thank you for doing such a good job taking care of our infrastructure. It is appreciated and noticed.”

Barber concluded, “Well, I think you’re going to get a unanimous vote when the time comes. Out of respect for PERB … we have to wait for them to count the cards and, if you have the majority, you’re going to be recognized.”

Other business

In other business at its June 17 meeting, the Guilderland Town Board:

— Unanimously adopted a two-month extension, to Sept. 5, of a building moratorium on certain residential development in town while the board waits to review recommended updates to its comprehensive land-use plan.

“The law says we can do it two times for two months each," said Barber.

The law states no new applications will be accepted for developments of five or more single-family lots, for an apartment building with 25 or more units, or for an assisted living or independent living facility or a nursing home of 50 units or more.

On June 3, the board unanimously granted an exception to its moratorium to allow a project with 72 units of affordable and workforce housing to proceed;

— Scheduled a continuation of the public hearing on the comprehensive plan update for July 15 at 7:15 p.m. at Guilderland Town Hall.

“We’ll probably have another one in August and maybe a third one in September,” Barber said of hearings.

He told the town board members he hoped, by July 15, that comments from the required planning-board review would be finalized.

“The problem right now,” said Barber, “is they’re updating maps, graphs, all that stuff”;

— Amended the town’s 2025 budget to use $5,518.96 from an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program left over from the previous year to complete a police-car upfit;

— Agreed to lease a house at the town’s Western Turnpike golf course to Noah Michael Ekstein, who works for Guilderland Emergency Medical Services. A town employee was sought to be a tenant, Barber said, because, “one, we know the person and, second, the person … could keep an eye on the place.”

The annual rent is $16,800, payable on the first of each month in installments of $1,400;

— Awarded a contract to Carver Construction Inc. for $642,174 to replace a culvert on Grand Street in Altamont. Carver had the lowest of seven bids with the highest at $1,149,104.80.

Barber said he is frequently asked why the town is paying for a culvert in the village of Altamont. “That’s because state law from 100 years ago basically said, if your town has a village within it, the town takes responsibility for the culverts.” He noted that, while the project is costly, “It’s a grant project that the town’s not spending any money on”; and

— Appointed James Arango as a Guilderland Police officer. “He will be heading off to the State Police Academy on July 11,” said Barber, stating that this is the first time “we’re taking a fresh person and we’re going to get them trained ourselves.”

Usually, Guilderland hires lateral transfers, that is, officers from other departments.

“I think he’s coming from a parks position …,” Barber said of Arango. “Very impressive, young guy. Eager.”