Workers protest contract issues
Children and Youth Services workers staged an informational picket Friday outside the Fayette County Courthouse to draw public attention to their contract dispute over health-care benefits with the county. Rose Cindrick, business agent for Service Employees International Union Local 668, which represents the CYS workers, said most of the 23-member staff took part in the demonstration, and some courthouse workers joined them to show their support.
All contractual issues between the union and the county, except health care benefit costs, have been resolved, she said.
The county wants CYS employees with families to pay $159.20 per month for the premium insurance plan, which offers fewer benefits than their current plan, Cindrick said.
After state and federal reimbursement of 88 percent of CYS workers’ health-care benefit costs and wages, the county has to pay only $117.72 per month, she said.
“They want my members to pay over and above that amount. It’s not fair,” Cindrick said.
She said other bargaining units she represents in the county government pay 26 percent of their health-care premium costs.
“We’ll pay 26 percent. We know we have to pay something. We’re willing to contribute a fair amount,” Cindrick said.
She said caseworkers currently make $26,000 per year.
The county’s proposed health plan would consume the entire $1,300 raise being offered in the contract and cost the union workers $610 more, Cindrick said.
“I’d say full payment of health care (insurance premiums) is the big issue, along with wages. … All of our employees, with the exception of CYS, are now paying a portion of their health care,” Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites said last week.