Nassau County unions said this week they will go to court if the Nassau County Legislature approves a law proposed by County Executive Edward Mangano to empower him order contact concessions.
“We feel its unconstitutional. If they pursue that, we will pursue litigation,” said Jim Carver, president of the Nassau Police Benevolent Association.
With the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority threatening to take control of the county’s finances, Mangano urged county unions to renegotiate their contracts.
“If they do not, I am fully prepared to enforce the concessions the county needs,” Mangano said at a press conference last week.
The county executive said the County Legislature is prepared to hold hearings on the Taxpayer Relief Act, which would include voluntary concessions, ordered concessions and lay offs, if necessary.
NIFA told Mangano in December that he had until Jan. 20 to prove that the county’s 2011 budget is balanced. Mangano has maintained his 2011 budget is balanced even without union concessions, but would need further spending cuts to balance their budget in 2012.
Mangano said it’s not fair for the county’s public-sector employees to be immune while private sector families bear all the sacrifice of a bad economy.
Union leaders said they oppose a NIFA takeover and will continue to negotiate with the Mangano on concessions.
“We feel the county executive should have the opportunity to manage the budget,” Carver said.
While the Republican Legislative majority passed a balanced budget for 2011, budgets for 2012 and beyond will not be balanced unless labor contracts are renegotiated, according to Mangano.
“Nassau families and seniors already pay the second highest property taxes in the nation and they are at a breaking point,” he said.
Mangano was joined in his called for labor concessions by Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos.
“I urge the public employee unions to work with the administration and agree to labor concessions that are no different from those required in the private sector,” Maragos said.
NIFA has no authority to reopen labor contracts with the unions, according to NIFA Chairman Ronald Stack who commented on the subject after a hearing last month.
Current labor contracts, which include annual salary increases, longevity pay, educational allowances that do not require any education, time off for donating blood and a no-lay-off provision, can only be opened through mutual agreements with the unions or through the authority that will be granted to the county executive through the Taxpayer Relief Act, according to Mangano.
Mangano said that over the life of the union contracts, total benefits derived are projected to exceed the Consumer Price Index by more than $500 million unless concessions are made.
The agency is required under state law to take control of the county’s finances if it determines that the county has a 1 percent budget deficit; currently $26 million for Nassau County.
Reach reporter Rich Jacques by e-mail at rjacques@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x203. Follow Rich Jacques on Twitter at twitter.com/ richjacques.
