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When you hear that a union has come to town it brings to mind stereotypes about wage disputes and picket lines, possible mob connections, higher costs for employers, and a breach of trust between employers and employees.  But when Lansing's Highway Department employees voted to become an International Brotherhood of Teamsters bargaining unit this year, it was none of the above.  "It's good for us, it's good for our employees across the board," says Town Supervisor Steve Farkas.  "I see it remaining a win-win situation for everyone."

The idea came about when Highway Department workers heard from colleagues in neighboring municipalities that the Teamsters' benefits package was quite good.  "It didn't affect salaries per se," explains Highway Superintendent Jack French.  "There is not as much money being taken out of everybody's paycheck as there used to be because of health insurance.  The Teamsters have got great health insurance coverage.  It just covers so much more than we were getting before at a lot lesser price."

The Teamsters union was formed in 1903, and has 1.4 million members today.  Its General President is James P. Hoffa, son of the infamous Jimmy Hoffa who held that position from the mid 1950s to the mid-1960s before his mysterious disappearance.  UPS is the largest single employer of Teamters, which began representing truck drivers and freight workers.  But the union has diversified, with public employees the largest growth division.  "The Teamsters represent everybody any more," say Deputy Highway Superintendent Charlie 'Cricket' Purcell.  "It used to be that they only represented truck drivers, but now they've got everybody."

Full time Town Hall employees did not choose to join the union this year, but Highway Department Teamsters voted to extend the benefits package to them anyway.  "It's a three year contract," Farkas explains.  "I would guess at the end of the three years the union is going to say to the folks here that they might want to join."

"Having used it for the first few times, it's amazing," says Town Bookkeeper and Personnel Officer Sharon Bowman.  "Our previous health insurance was Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield's traditional indemnity plan.  It was good insurance, but we didn't have a vision rider, and we didn't have a dental rider.  We looked into it, but the cost would have been exorbitant.  The Town would have passed that cost to the employees, and the employees said 'We already feel like we're paying enough, and as much as we'd like to have these additional benefit riders, we just can't afford it.'"

Purcell says that being part of the union has not added an onerous layer of extra responsibilities on its members.  "Being in the public sector, obviously you don't participate in any picket lines or things like that," he says.  "There is an annual meeting that any member can attend.  They keep you updated on changes."

And French, who is not part of the bargaining unit, notes that the union dues are paid for in savings to employees.  "The health insurance itself is completely paid for," he says.  "The guys all pay monthly dues that is quite a bit less than what they were paying for health insurance."

The medical and dental parts of the insurance package is Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  Medco is the prescription provider, and Davis Vision provides eye care coverage locally through Empire Vision.  "I could have walked out of there with zero cost," Bowman says.  "You couldn't choose any frame, but I imagined there would be a very narrow range of choices.  I found there were so many choices that I was overwhelmed.  So I was thrilled."

Farkas says that relations between the Town and the new bargaining unit have been cordial and productive.  "There was no pressure by either side," he says.  "It had really to do with benefits.  After it was all done we had a good relationship with the Highway Department negotiators, and the people from the Teamsters.  They weren't trying to jam anything down anybody's throat.  It just worked out well for everybody.  It was a situation where we could walk away from the table and shake hands and say thank you."

Farkas, Bowman, and French all say that the relationship with the Teamsters not only provides an excellent benefits package for Town employees, but it does so at less cost to both employees and the Town.  "I think people who were naysayers to start with found out it was a heck of a package," Farkas says.  "For the few dollars a month it costs to be a member of the union it was a heck of a package.  So I think everybody won."

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