CARMEL, N.Y. — Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) have reached a five-year contract agreement, marking the final collective bargaining agreement among the county’s four major unions.
According to a Feb. 13 press release from the county executive's office, the CSEA membership overwhelmingly approved the contract in a vote, “solidifying a long-term agreement that benefits both county employees and taxpayers," the press release said.
The contract is retroactive to January 2024 and will expire in December 2028.
“This is a landmark moment for Putnam County. This latest contract with CSEA is a win-win, ensuring stability for employees and continuity in the delivery of county services,” said Byrne. “It may have taken longer than we all wanted, but we have an agreement that reflects our commitment to supporting the dedicated public servants who keep Putnam County running while also being fiscally responsible to our taxpayers. I want to thank CSEA President Linda Amicucci, Deputy County Executive Jim Burpoe, Director of Personnel Paul Eldridge, and our entire negotiating team for working collaboratively to get this done.”
CSEA President Linda Amicucci said the agreement would provide her union's members the “fair wages and benefits they deserve" while maintaining a “high level of service” to Putnam residents.
"We appreciate the county’s willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations, and we are pleased to have a contract that protects our workforce and recognizes their dedication,” Amicucci said,
The contract will now go to the County Legislature for consideration. If approved, all Putnam County employees will be working under contract at the same time. The press release noted that Byrne's administration had previously reached agreements with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office PBA, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Employees Association (PCSEA), and the Putnam Management Association (PuMA), “ensuring stability and continuity across the entire county workforce.”
“Upon taking office, we inherited four contracts that were either expiring or expired, and in two years we resolved them all. Our county employees are now fully under contract, providing a sense of certainty and fairness for our workforce,” Byrne said. “When I first announced my decision to run for county executive, many doubted we’d ever be able to get contracts for all of our unions in such a short time, but we were committed to making it a reality and got it done.”
Personnel Officer Paul Eldridge said having all workers under contract required all sides to be willing to work together at the bargaining table.
“Negotiating four successful labor agreements over the past 18 months required an ongoing commitment from all parties involved," Eldridge said. "The dedication and professionalism demonstrated by each of the union negotiating teams and the county team led to reaching fair agreements for our county employees. Having County Executive Byrne involved throughout the process set a clear signal to our employees of the importance of achieving equitable agreements.”
Byrne's office said the new five-year contract “provides competitive compensation and benefits, reinforcing the county’s commitment to retaining and attracting top talent while maintaining fiscal responsibility.”
“With all county employees under contract, the Byrne administration will have successfully achieved a key labor-relations goal, reinforcing a strong partnership between the county government and its workforce,” the release said.
The new contract is expected to be voted on at the Personnel Committee of the Legislature on Feb. 13 and can be found online at: https://putnamcountyny.gov/images/Departments/Legislature/Meetings/2025/02-February/02-13-25-Personnel-Mtg.pdf
Information provides by the Office of the Putnam County Executive
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