New CSEA Union Contract Approved by Chappaqua School Board

At its Tuesday-night (and technically, Wednesday morning) meeting, the Chappaqua Central School District Board of Education approved a contract with its CSEA, AFSCME and AFL-CIO union employees, ending a nearly two-year period in which no agreement existed.

The contract is retroactive to July 1, 2009 and expires on June 30, 2012. Notable terms include:

• Increasing the employee health insurance premium contribution to nine percent "effective the month following the mutual ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement," followed by a 10.50-percent increase on July 1 of this year.
• Retroactive step increases for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, with no salary increase from before then. However, some employees will receive "a non-recurring cash payment equal in amount to 2% of their 2010-2011 annual salary" at the time of the agreement's ratification.
• For 2011-12, a deferred step increase to Jan. 1, 2012, as opposed to the usual July 1 date for steps during school years. There will be a 1.5-percent salary increase, effective July 1 of this year.
• Employees being required to provide a doctor's note if sick for more than five days
• Increasing dental premiums, effective at retroactive dates in 2009 and 2010
• Additional stipends for employees beyond 20 steps

For more details, see the agreement, which is attached here as a PDF file.