CSEA vote to amend health care coverage narrowly passes, results shows

Members of Nassau's Civil Service Employees Association Local 830 narrowly ratified a new agreement that would change some of the terms in their 2023 contract, a central issue in a protracted battle with County Executive Bruce Blakeman over health care coverage.

State union officials confirmed early Friday morning the final results showed 1,376 voted in favor and 1,317 voted against. There were 87 challenged ballots, of which only 13 were valid and counted, according to the union.

Leaders of CSEA, the county's largest public employee union, and the Blakeman administration last month signed a memorandum of agreement that would provide some 4,000 members the state's costliest and highest-level health insurance, Empire Plan, or an equivalent if members agreed to contribute 3% of their base salary.

Members voted on the MOA electronically at several locations throughout the county after a month of informational sessions conducted by the union's leadership.

"I'm happy for the county CSEA members who are getting first class health care coverage at a lower contribution rate than state CSEA members," Blakeman said Friday.

Jarvis Brown, the CSEA's Long Island region president, did not respond to a request for comment.

The rare, mid-contract vote amends the 13-year collective bargaining agreement between the union and the Blakeman administration ratified in August 2023. It comes as Blakeman, a Republican, ramps up his reelection campaign to face Democratic challenger and first-term county Legis. Seth Koslow, of Merrick, in November. 

While union members historically have been a reliable voting bloc for Republicans, the county employees had been critical about the health insurance plan they agreed to in their current contract and successfully sued the county to temporarily stay on Empire.

In a separate battle, the courts also sided with county civil service retirees who sued the Blakeman administration to keep their Empire health care.

According to the MOA, CSEA members would be guaranteed the Empire Plan or equivalent through the contract and begin contributing to their health insurance premiums beginning in 2026.

Previously promised wage increases would be delayed and retirees and seasonal workers would get retroactive raises paid within 60 days of ratification.

Correction: CSEA members could take advantage of Empire Plan through the life of the contract if members approve it. This story has been updated to correct how long health care coverage would last.

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.com,joe.werkmeister@newsday.comcandiceferrette,

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.