Suffolk County Water Authority and union reach new contract deal bumping pay up by 26% over 8 years

The Suffolk County Water Authority reached a contract agreement with some of its unionized workers that raises pay by 26% over eight years, provides remote work flexibility for some members and requires new employees to contribute more toward their health insurance.

The water authority and the Utility Workers Union of America Local 393, which represents about 350 employees, finalized the contract this week just before the current deal expires July 1.

Local 393 president Barbara Yatauro said in an interview with Newsday it was the first time in over 50 years the two sides reached a deal before a contract expired.

She said the deal gives union members "the best wage increase we've had in 30 years."

The contract raises annual salaries by 4% in the first two years and 3% each subsequent year.

Union members ratified the pact on Monday and the water authority's five-member board approved it Wednesday.

Jeff Szabo, the water authority’s chief executive officer, said in an interview that the agency factors in contracts when budgeting and determining rates so the new contract should not have an immediate impact on customers. The water authority, an independent public-benefit corporation, serves about 1.2 million Suffolk County residents. The contract deal does not require any legislative approvals. 

"We want to obviously show respect for the employees for the work that they do and pay them a fair wage," he said.

New employees will contribute 20% toward health care premiums — an additional 5% compared to current employees, officials said. The 15% contribution began under the last contract.

Szabo said the additional employee contribution will be key for the water authority as it tries "to curtail the ever-rising cost of health care premiums."

Yatauro said agreeing to 20% was something they were not happy over, "but it was the best decision for us."

In other concessions, the union agreed to an 11% reduction in clothing allowance for employees who work in the field and to a revised structure for meal allowances when employees work overtime.

Yatauro said "a spirit of collaboration on a lot of things" allowed the two sides to swiftly reach a deal. In 2016, the union and water authority signed a contract after several years without a deal, Newsday reported at the time. Both sides later agreed to a two-year extension during the pandemic that brought the contract to 2025, Yatauro said. Members received a 2.5% annual increase in salary during those two years, she said.

The union represents construction workers, plant operators and call center staff. Some employees in the water quality laboratory are represented by a separate union, according to the water authority.

John Milazzo, the water authority's general counsel who negotiated the deal, said the contract also adds one-person crews to its construction maintenance department for the first time. Previously, crews worked in a minimum of pairs. He said the move will provide more efficiency by allowing workers to handle jobs that only require one person, such as putting dirt in a trench.

Water authority chairman Charles Lefkowitz said in a statement the contract is "an enormous achievement for our organization, for the hundreds of employees represented by the union and for the customers who rely on SCWA for high quality drinking water."