A sweet deal for county workers

To the Editor:

Have you heard of the Taylor Law? The county workers, MTA, teachers and police all know it well. It’s invoked when they seek more money and benefits if the powers in charge don’t accommodate them. Part of it says public employees can’t strike. Their out is to get binding arbitration using the law. The arbitrator is hired by both parties and paid by both. For the employee, it’s a good deal; they get what the want. The current CSEA binding contract lasts for years — until 2016. The former county executive said he didn’t have money for even the first year raises. The union agreed to collect it at a later date.

The law enables both sides to win. The executive says he didn’t do it and that the union is happy.

Recently, the public union boss used the law and got himself a $65,000 per year increase; he claimed union activity limited his earning power. Why didn’t this powerful, rich union compensate him? His income now matches that of a four-star general. The increase does help his pension, too.

The law is an example of lobbying activity at work and success. The government worker represents votes at the state and local level, and the folks like the troops to be happy. Who lobbies for the public?

Is the Nassau Interim Finance Agency for public protection? Did the Taylor Law get overused?

Are the county, schools, MTA, etc., victims of its overuse, and are the workers now reaping a negative reward?

Richard Creeron

Valley Stream