MONTICELLO — By a 394-34 margin, 92 percent of the Sullivan County Teamster government employees have approved a two-year contract that raises their pay $1,500 retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018, and another $1,500 for 2019.

In addition, a significant number of employees will receive upgrades that raise their pay an additional five percent effective March 1, 2019.

The contract establishes a minimum pay of $15 per hour for all employees, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2019.

Those covered by the contract include Teamster Local 445 members at the Government Center, Department of Family Services, Public Health, Community Services, the District Attorney's Office, the Center for Workforce Development, the 911 Center, and the Transportation Department.

The contract expires December 31, 2019. In the past two years the Teamsters have staged several rallies to call attention to their issues.

"We've come a long way, but we have a long way to go," said Teamsters Local 445 Representative Jerry Ebert. "We're very grateful to county leaders for recognizing the need for these significant improvements. This is a good half-way point."

He said during the next round of negotiations this autumn, the employees would seek more upgrades, a step system of pay to reward employees for their years of service, and other improvements.

“The county realizes it needs to compete with the much-higher wages and benefits paid to equivalent employees in our towns, villages, school districts and correctional facilities, as well as surrounding counties. Otherwise, the county will continue to be an expensive training center for employees who are poached by other public employers soon after the training is completed.

"This contract moves toward fixing that problem, but we need to finish the job," said Ebert.

Sullivan County legislators unanimously ratified the contract yesterday during their full-board meeting.

“The 516 members of the Teamsters union form the backbone of this County,” remarked Legislature Chairman Luis Alvarez. “I am pleased they agreed to an offer designed to recognize the hard work they do, and I am even more pleased my colleagues and I agreed to make this proposal a reality.”