Canandaigua Highway Workers Increase Rights with CWA 1170

In April 2016, employees working in the town of Canandaigua highway department signed a petition to be represented by CWA Local 1170. Unfortunately, the Town of Canandaigua would not voluntarily recognize the unit. The petition was submitted to the New York State Public Employee Certification Board, where the employees faced significant time delays and a lengthy approval process in order to be certified as a unit. The Canandaigua Town Supervisor strongly urged them not to form a union, stating that the employees would lose their right to directly communicate with the town if an outside party came in to represent them.

What It Means to Have a Local Union Representative

However, by losing communication directly with the town and seeking representation, employees can level the playing field and better negotiate their working conditions. They can elect officers to speak to and bargain with the town on their behalf, as well as form their own bylaws and meetings. Management often has the perception that employees lose rights to communicate when they form a union, when in fact, their representation gives them greater rights and more bargaining power.

During the strenuous approval process, the employees did not waiver. They were fully committed to the process of pursuing representation. After nearly six months of challenges, the employees finally gained the right to be represented by CWA Local 1170 in December 2016.

Employees began to meet with the CWA organizer and the CWA leadership team to discuss the process. The president of CWA then met with the newly elected officers to present a contract to cover working conditions and benefits and began to negotiate on the outlined proposals with the Town. The employees wore union shirts and stickers to openly voice their representation by CWA. An official proposal was sent to the employer, the Town of Canandaigua, in December 2016, and after months of meeting, the two parties came to an agreement in June 2017.

Collective Bargaining for Canandaigua Highway Workers

CWA Local 1170 successfully negotiated a number of benefits on behalf of the Canandaigua highway workers. A three-year wage progression chart was implemented, retroactive to January 1, 2017, which laid out employee raises for the next two years. A comprehensive health insurance plan was also developed, which included the specific amount of out-of-pocket contributions. The CWA Local 1170 also negotiated and gained a grievance procedure, which allows a formal grievance to be submitted and discussed with the Highway Superintendent and Town Supervisor to address it.

The employees were thankful to have had someone address issues on their behalf. CWA Local 1170 delivered a fair settlement where the employees had the ability to say “yes” or “no” to terms acceptable to them.

Want to learn how local union representatives can help you and your workplace negotiate fair wages, better health insurance, and more rights? Contact us today.