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Schenectady County approves three-year tentative agreement with Public Defenders union
Summary
The Legislature authorized a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Public Defenders Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, UAW Local 2325, and approved budgetary amendments to fund the contract; the agreement includes pay increases, new supervisory differentials and changes to weekly first‑appearance pay.
The Schenectady County Legislature voted to authorize a tentative three‑year collective bargaining agreement with the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, UAW Local 2325, representing attorneys in the county Public Defender’s Office, and approved budgetary amendments to implement the contract.
Why it matters: The contract addresses recruitment, retention and compensation for county public defenders amid several vacant positions and expands promotional differentials for supervisory roles. The agreement and related budget amendments were presented to the Rules Committee and reported to the full Legislature, which approved the measures.
County staff described the tentative agreement at the meeting as the result of more than a year of negotiations. Key provisions described in the explanatory memo include a three‑year term, a first‑year increase of 3% plus a $3,000 base adjustment, and 3.5% increases in years two and three. The agreement also creates four bureau chief positions and a chief assistant public defender; those positions would receive a 10% differential over base pay. The weekly pay for counsel at first appearance was increased from $1,000 per week to $1,650 per week, according to the negotiating summary presented.
The county’s memo stated other provisions: longevity pay remains as previously set, health care benefits were described as unchanged, remote work is not authorized under the contract, and a benefits provision that has generated grievances in other contracts was intentionally left out of this unit’s agreement. County negotiators cited current staffing levels: 14 full‑time attorneys, 5 part‑time attorneys, and six vacant full‑time slots in the Public Defender’s Office.
Legislators moved two linked resolutions: one authorizing the County Manager to enter into the collective bargaining agreement and one to amend the county budget to effectuate the agreement’s terms. The Legislature approved the authorization resolution (Resolution 28‑25) by roll call; the recorded result was 11 ayes, 2 nays, 2 excused. The budgetary amendment resolution (Resolution 29‑25) passed on roll call with 13 ayes and 2 excused.
County officials credited a negotiating team that included Sarah Petritone (first deputy attorney and county attorney), Jennifer Bargy (deputy county manager), Deneen LaPlante (deputy director of human resources) and outside counsel Rory Fluman.
No remote‑work provision: The memorandum presented to the Legislature said the union had pushed for telework but the tentative agreement allows no remote work for members of this bargaining unit.
Legislator explanations: At least one legislator explained their aye vote as support for collective bargaining and the result of productive negotiations that produced a compromise both sides could accept.
Implementation: County staff said they will implement the contract if authorized and that the budget amendments are required to fund the negotiated increases. Specific effective dates for pay changes were described as set out in the tentative agreement documents provided to the Legislature.
