ON LABOR DAY:

WEINER URGES A “NEW COMMITMENT”TO LABOR NEGOTIATIONS

 

LACK OF NEW CONTRACTS

LEADS TO LOSS OF VALUED EMPLOYEES SUCH AS TEACHERS

 A FAIR DEAL:

WORK AS HARD ON EMPLOYEE DEALS AS A WEST SIDE STADIUM AND WE COULD HAVE FAIR CONTRACTS WITH FIREFIGHTERS, TEACHERS, AND POLICE

New York City -- On Labor Day, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn) pledged to bring a “new commitment” to negotiating labor contracts, contrary to the approach currently employed by Mayor Bloomberg.  As Mayor, Weiner said he would rely on commitment and hard work to settle a fair contract for firefighters, teachers, sanitation workers, and police.  

            The Bloomberg Administration’s approach to labor negotiations has been characterized by lack of respect and delay.  

            The Mayor was unable to settle a contract with the police for eleven months, with the dispute finally going to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).

            Teachers have been without a contract since May of 2003.  Their contract is currently being considered by the PERB.

           For firefighters the wait has been longer—no contract since May of 2002.

    And for sanitation workers, the wait has been longest of all—nothing since October of 2002

            Today, Weiner pledged to bring a different approach to labor negotiations with the police, teachers, sanitation workers, and firefighters.

            “If you value city employees, you respect them enough to negotiate a contract,” said Rep. Weiner.  “Commitment to getting it done should be the guiding principle, not delay.  On Labor Day, we should be thinking of how to keep our best public servants here, serving New York City, rather than fleeing to the surrounding suburbs for higher pay.  It is a question of priorities. If the same energy that was spent flying around the world to try and snag the Olympics or to build a huge West Side stadium was instead spent negotiating a fair deal -- our firefighters, police, sanitation workers and teachers would have appropriate contracts much sooner. This is important not just because it is fair and right, but because we need to keep our teachers and other crucial employees here working in the City.”