Local 642, whose members work for the nonprofit Harborcreek Youth Services, negotiated a one-year agreement with their employer in May. Similar to the one-year contract they signed last year, this contract was negotiated in the context of financial difficulties caused by the closing of their largest unit, after a temp employee was found to have been sexually abusing clients. A new unit hasn't opened yet to begin taking more clients, and the agency is still having financial difficulties with a projected $1.5 million deficit for this fiscal year.
The new contract includes small increases to copays and deductibles, but no increases to their healthcare premiums. It provides for a 3.2 percent general wage increase as well as increases to the starting wage rates. Employer contributions to workers’ 401(b) retirement plans will remain temporarily reduced to 1.5 percent instead of the four percent it had been prior to last year’s contract, and the employer will provide a 50 percent match of up to four percent of employee contributions. The agency had demanded increased medical benefit costs, permanently eliminating its four percent retirement contribution, and had offered only a small wage increase.
The Local 642 negotiating committee consisted of President Jason Williams, Vice President Brian DeSanto, Financial Secretary Mike Hardner, and Chief Steward Mary Jo Stiller. They were assisted by Staff Coordinator John Thompson.