Nearly 300 county workers have a new four-year contract.
Members of CSEA Local 848 approved the contract Thursday and Schoharie County voted in favor of the deal Friday afternoon. The contract runs from 2012 to 2015.
The new deal carries no salary increase for 2012, a one percent hike for this year, an increase of 1.5 percent for 2014, and a two percent hike for 2015 for the county's civil employees.
In addition to the pay increases, there were some language changes on vacation leave, sick leave and health insurance for workers hired after May 1, 2013.
Union members approved the contract by a count of 137 to 87, according to Larry Bradt of Carlisle. All supervisors at the meeting voted in favor of the deal except for Tom Murray of Cobleskill.
County Treasurer Bill Cherry said the salary increases will total $111,286 for this year. The amount can be taken out of the excess payment for boarding of prisoners.
With one new contract complete, county contract talks now shift to the deal with members of the Sheriff's road patrol and the corrections officers.
CSEA union members turned down a five-year proposal last year that had no salary hikes for three years, then a $750 lump sum and finally a two percent increase, according to Schoharie Supervisor Gene Milone.
The talks went very smoothly earlier this month, according to Mr. Milone and needed only one evening session.
Union President Barb Schaffer echoed those feelings Tuesday.
Contract talks began last March but the talks with this year's personnel committee "were much better, more communication, more back and forth. It was a much better atmosphere than with the previous personnel committee."
Though some members felt the salary increases should have been higher and others felt the retiree tiers should not be split, Ms. Schaffer said she was pleased with the negotiations and the details of the contract.
Union negotiators felt they need to give more to the employees while giving back something to the county, she added.
In addition to the salary increases, workers hired after May 1 will have to pay 10 percent of the cost for health insurance for individuals or 25 percent of the difference between the individual and family plan.
Employees hired after May 1 will also need to work 15 years before being eligible for the retirees' health insurance plan. The requirement had been 10 years.
In other minor changes, workers were given Christmas Eve off and DPW workers were given a $100 reimbursement for clothing. In the past, employees had to work half-days on Christmas and New Year's eves. Now they will have to work a full day on New Year's Eve.
Mr. Bradt said both sides agreed that the best way to start cutting costs was with new hires.
Mr. Murray and Harold Vroman of Summit were upset that they and other supervisors who were not on the personnel committee did not receive information about the contract before the meeting.
The entire board should be apprised of the details, Mr. Vroman said.
He called the way it was handled "not very professional."
All supervisors should have gotten copies of the proposed contract before a vote was called for, Mr. Murray complained.
"I can't believe you didn't," he added.
As for the next contracts, a meeting has been held with road patrol union representatives. The same salary numbers were proposed, according to Mr. Milone.
A meeting with union reps for the corrections unit is slated for April 30, Mr. Bradt said.