Stony Brook Workers Secure Medical Benefits, Wage Increases (11/13/09)

The close to 200 Local 1102 members who work in food service at Stony Brook university ratified a new  three-year pact on October 1. During the lengthy negotiations, the union fought back six pages of “give backs” initially demanded by the company.

“Management was trying to reduce sick days, holiday pay, and implement medical cost sharing, all things that the membership was vehemently opposed to,” said Local 1102 President Frank Bail. “Basically, they wanted to undermine the union contract, but the negotiating committee, backed up by the membership, wouldn’t allow this to happen.”

The new contract secured the medical plan with no cost sharing by employees. There are also good wage increases that are retroactive to June 1, and increases in the Local 1102 401 K pension plan, which members have in addition to their defined benefit pension plan. In addition, several “past practices” were secured in writing.