SMETHPORT – Contract talks between McKean County and the
Court-Related Unit labor union continued on Monday.

According to County Administrator Richard Casey, the two sides
made additional progress in attempting to hammer out a
contract.

“We made some more progress,” Casey said Monday night. “There
are still some outstanding issues that need resolved, but we are
moving along.”

The parties have been in negotiations since February. The union
is comprised of court-related employees in the sheriff, district
attorney, prothonotary, register of wills, public defender and
coroner’s offices.

All told, there are 14 positions involved in the union, county
officials said.

To this point, both sides have been discussing the language
making up the contract, with such issues as seniority and
anti-discrimination matters already agreed upon.

The union, formed in August 2005 after the sheriff’s deputies
“broke away” from the prison, is represented by the American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Officials said the agreement is being crafted similar to the
county’s existing contract with the prison guards.

There has been no time frame set on when the county would like
to see a final agreement reached.

Casey said the two sides will meet again sometime in the middle
of August; a couple of dates being discussed.