Binghamton council votes down CSEA collective bargaining agreement amid union-ratification concerns

The Binghamton City Council voted down introductory resolution R24-106, which would have authorized the mayor to enter into a full collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA).

Councilman Porter moved the resolution and a colleague seconded. During discussion Councilmember Dunton and others said the union membership had not seen or ratified the full 27-page CBA and argued it would be improper for council to approve a contract the members themselves had not voted on. “I think it would be very wrong of us to vote on a contract that the members themselves did not vote on,” one councilmember said.

The council also discussed process details: one councilmember noted the tentative agreement would fall in place until Dec. 31, 2027 if the full CBA was not approved, and the city attorney said a date on page 17 (an expiration date listed as Dec. 31, 2024) appeared to be a holdover from the prior CBA and could be corrected if the contract were approved.

Clerk roll call recorded multiple 'No'/'Nay' responses and the council voted the resolution down; meeting minutes and the clerk’s roll call reflect the failure of R24-106.

Councilmembers expressed concern about forcing ratification on union members within a short window and noted that bargaining-unit members had not had the opportunity to review the full agreement during the negotiation process. The council did not adopt any alternate language or conditional preapproval in the meeting; the item could be reintroduced after the union completes its ratification process.

The motion was defeated and the council then moved to adjourn.