Armed with the results of a faculty survey that set priorities in bargaining, negotiators for the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers worked with clear goals in mind and open communication with members as negotiations unfolded for a new contract.

"We went in with realistic expectations and accomplished what we wanted to," said Debra DeSanto, acting president of the 750-member local.

Local unions across the state are using a variety of creative techniques to reach successful contract settlements.

The Nassau County local posted information on its Web site, published electronic and paper newsletters, held general membership meetings and monthly executive board meetings.

These steps maintained an informed and unified membership on the 225-acre Garden City campus, which serves 37,000 full- and part-time students.

The contract, ratified in May, met the members' two top goals: maintaining quality health care and establishing domestic partner benefits.

Salaries increased about 9 percent over five years, along with annual step increases. An early retirement incentive also was included.

Cleveland Hill gains

Before assuming leadership of the Cleveland Hill Education Association, Serena Kotch created a poll to find out the top issues of concern for members and tallied the results with an ad hoc committee.

After setting contract priorities, the local launched community relations and solidarity campaigns that included buttons and T-shirts with positive messages.

"We wore the T-shirts every Friday and to all PTA and community events. We also attended a few board meetings en masse in our shirts," Kotch said.

The unity built through those efforts shone through at the bargaining table.

"We stood undivided and strong at the table through the whole process," Kotch said. "The serious gains we made this time will set the stage for future successes."

The local won good salary and step increases, along with 2 1/2 years of retroactive pay. For a minor increase in health care premiums they won a better plan and less costly co-pays.

Kotch tells other local leaders, "Make community relations and solidarity your top goals. You must show your community that you care and that you are there for them and their children."

SRP locals reach out

A commitment to reach out to the community helped two units of School-Related Professionals in the Wheatland-Chili district win quality contracts, proving again that small locals with big plans can reach their goals.

Wheatland-Chili is a rural district for the village of Scottsville and the town of Wheatland in Monroe County. Years of poverty-level pay for school support workers was making it harder for them and their families to put food on the table.

Tired of conditions, local leaders tried a new approach in this round of bargaining.

In early spring, dozens of union members led a march through the streets of Scottsville to a school board meeting. What made the weeknight march powerful was the support of the community, standing alongside the union members.

The weekend before, SRPs passed out fliers about their situation and their march in town "until we ran out," said Gail Horne, president of the clerical, nurses and aides chapter. "We asked people to join us at our march."

Nancy Scheerens, president of the bus drivers, secretaries, food service and maintenance workers chapter, went door to door, talking to parents from her bus route.

"When I told them we were almost two years without a contract, they were appalled," she said.

NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue and more than 150 union members, parents and students filled the streets and rallied outside the school.

Marchers then crowded the gym, where speaker after speaker supported the workers.

"Knowing we had the support of the community, the confidence of the parents and a line of people speaking for us gave us a warm feeling," Scheerens said. "Having the community ask why our contract wasn't settled really helped."

Three months later, a settlement was finally reached. The two chapters in Wheatland-Chili won five-year contracts, retroactive to 2007-08. They gained pay raises of at least 18.5 percent across the board, with additional raises for some titles.

Negotiators bumped up starting pay for all positions and increased the winter wear and hand tools allowances. Workers with 15 years of district service now qualify for a $2,000 retirement incentive. The union protected health benefits and resisted an effort to "tier" benefits for newer members.

"We stayed strong as a unit, we had the trust of the members, and our labor relations specialist, Nan Rodgers, really kept us moving in the right direction," Scheerens said.

Donahue described the local as persistent and united.

"Their ability to draw community support shows the respect that parents and families have for SRPs whose work is so essential to children," Donahue said. "This community's willingness to help when asked can be replicated by other SRP locals."

Gains elsewhere

• The Hoosic Valley Teaching Assistants in Rensselaer County, led by Donn Maynard with chief negotiator Trish Pallozzi, recently won a two-year agreement that creates a new $500 stipend for a four-year degree and raises the two-year degree stipend to $250. Each member will receive a 4.5 percent salary increase both years.

• The Washington Academy Service Employees Association, led by Regina Eastman, gained 4.2 percent on base salaries. A health insurance reimbursement account, worth up to $2,000, has been established for employees not currently receiving benefits. Retirees in the Washington County local will see improvements in health insurance options.

• In Fulton County, the Wheelerville SRPs, led by Jan Rogueau, won an agreement with a 4.2 percent average increase for three years, and no changes to health insurance coverage.