CSEA AND FSW RALLY AT MONROE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING

CSEA and FSW members walk the walk in front of the Monroe County Office Building on August 10.

Rochester, N.Y. -- Many Monroe County employees have been working without a contract for more than a year and a half, approximately 587 days. Enough is enough.

CSEA joined with the Monroe County Federation of Social Workers to send a message to administrators that the unions want no more delays in settling union contracts. True, CSEA members have not accepted the County's previous offers. Members reiterate that what the county proposed was unrealistic--it went way too deep into the pockets of employees and high jacked the weekly budgets of our working families. Members said the rally was important because they felt it necessary they defend what is "ours" and educate the community on the importance of collective bargaining agreements and the role of unions in the workplace.

CSEA and FSW members work in positions such as child protective and elderly abuse investigators, probation officers, DOT, clerical positions at County Office buildings, employees at the Monroe County Hospital and assist the community with Medicaid and food stamp programs.

"We want everybody to know that we're not here to beg, we're not here to ask for more than we're entitled to, we're just asking for a fair and reasonable negotiation process and we want them to bargain in good faith," said Evelyn Evans, president of the Federation of Social Workers.

CSEA and FSW only want county administrators to honor the Taylor Law and bargain in good faith. As of today, we know that county administration can remedy this if they truly wanted to. They have reasons to prolong the fight that are obvious to most observers-- and to the detriment of the taxpayers of our community. Workers deserve more respect and are demanding a fair and just contract that guarantees due process and a reasonable healthcare plan. Period. To see a photo gallery of yesterday's event, you can go here. To learn more from the negotiations team, you can go here to the Unit 7400 blogspot.

(Photos by Ove Overmyer.  Click on images for a larger view)