pMembers of the Jefferson County Board of Legislators Finance Committee unanimously voted Tuesday in favor of a new agreement between the county and the Civil Service Employees Association Local 823./ppThe new contract, which runs until Dec. 31, 2019, includes a 2 percent salary increase for county workers effective Jan. 1, 2016, a 1.5 percent increase effective Jan. 1, 2017, a 1.5 percent increase effective Jan. 1, 2018 and a 2 percent increase effective Jan. 1, 2019. /ppAdditionally, the contract outlines health benefits that are contributed on a percentage of annual premiums equivalent rather than a flat dollar contribution. The employee cost of individual or family coverage is now 15 percent of the annual premium equivalent paid bi-weekly per pay period, according to the contract. Employee contributions cannot exceed 15 percent of $14,000 for individual coverage or $32,000 for family coverage. The cap will go away at the end of the contract period on Dec. 31, 2019./ppThe county was out of contract with the CSEA last year./ppValerie M. Nugent, director of Jefferson County Human Resources, said the county had been trying to negotiate a move to a percent contribution for over a decade. /ppBoard Chairman Scott A. Gray said the contractual raises are still necessary for county employees even considering the county’s teetering finances./pp“You can’t penalize people for our situation, nor can you penalize people working for us,” he said./ppThe contract also says a Health Insurance Committee will meet quarterly to share information and discuss issues. /ppThe committee will be composed of two union representatives, two management representatives, one prescription drug representative, one third party administrator representative, one consultant and one county legislator. Group Health Incorporated, POMCO, or another agreed-upon provider will act as a third party administrator for the duration of the contract. /p
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