December 22, 2008
The costs of arbitration
Suffolk County police officers receive as many as 100 days off a year (not counting weekends), perks that County Executive Steven Levy calls "ridiculous" and blames on the state's binding arbitration law.
If Suffolk County cops do not use all their sick and vacation time, they can "cash out" at retirement. Payouts in 2008 averaged $133,694 per retiree, according to Levy.
The average salary and benefit cost for a Suffolk County police officer is $178,754. The starting police salary is nearly $58,000 and climbs to almost $100,000 in base pay (without benefits and overtime) in five years.
"This type of excess has always been wrong, but it [is] most pronounced today when the economy is so bad and there is such a strain on our budgets," said Levy, who wants the state Legislature to amend the arbitration law. [Link available later.]
Newsday reports:
Jeff Flayer, the president of the county Police Benevolent Association, Friday accused Levy of exaggerating the county's fiscal situation to further his political career. He also said police pay and other perks are in line with other departments.
(snip)
The last police contract expired at the end of 2007. After unsuccessful negotiations, the contract went to an independent arbitrator in September. Both sides are now preparing briefs for the arbitrator. A decision is not expected until late spring.
Meanwhile, an independent arbitrator awarded the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) unit in Nassau County a contract that ties the county's hands until December 31, 2015. In a column entitled "Nassau CSEA employees' contract ignores reality,' Joye Brown writes:While they will get no raises for 2008, and lost a no-layoff provision, they're guaranteed raises that will be compounded over the next seven years. They also keep something precious and increasingly rare - no contributions to their health-care insurance for the entire eight-year term of the award.
(snip)
Some of the terms:
No raises or lump sum payments for 2008, then raises for each of the following seven years as follows: Jan. 1, 2009, 3.65 percent; April 1, 2010, 3.65 percent; April 1, 2011, 3.75 percent; April 1, 2012, 3.75 percent; Jan. 1, 2013, 3.5 percent; Jan. 1, 2014, 3.5 percent; Jan. 1, 2015, 3.75 percent.
Union members do not have to contribute toward health care coverage.
Longevity pay increase beginning in 2010.
CSEA represents 10,000 Nassau County employees.
« Previous |
Main
| Next »
|
