From Long Island Business News
What will it take for officials to finally do something to curb law enforcement salaries on Long Island, now hovering around $200,000?
I thought the 2008 economic crisis would do it. Then I thought Detroit’s bankruptcy would do it. Then I thought the new Suffolk County executive’s proposal to sell off county buildings and then lease them back would do it. Or the exposure of a Long Island Railroad scandal where 97 percent of retirees received bogus disability payments.
Nope.
One day, the Suffolk executive was crying about a $500 million deficit (radically overblown) and the next he was signing a contract granting $350 million in salary increases over eight years to a police department already among the highest paid in the nation. He rightfully claims that arbitration has traditionally given bad deals to the taxpayer, but two wrongs don’t make a right.
The new contract costs millions by reversing the reforms and civilianization of the past – including moving county police patrols back onto the Long Island Expressway – and giving blanket “education” bonuses whether or not an officer actually received more education. It claims to mitigate costs via a $17 million savings in healthcare that never materialized. It back-loaded most increases until after the reelection cycle, and claims savings from lower starting salaries that were already claimed in a previous arbitration.
The contract for just 340 detectives costs about the same as the contract for 5,500 rank-and-file workers in the Association of Municipal Employees union.
It’s hard to say that the county would have done worse in arbitration, but mandatory arbitration has led to six-week vacations, six-figure pensions, 50-plus sick and personal paid days off per year and termination pay over $200,000.
Don’t blame the average cop, who simply receives what was earned. Don’t even blame the union – while thuggish in its tactics, it’s just doing its job.
Blame the politicians who allow this to continue.
Where are the legislators who say “enough?” Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, R-Smithtown, has a bill to cap these awards, but not a single state senator or majority Assembly member has signed on. If not a $227,000 law enforcement official, what will it take to initiate change?
Opponents say showing ID is simply too burdensome… yet we require an ID to obtain a library card, or to obtain social services.
October 8, 2013Everyone wants to avoid a strike at the Long Island Rail Road.
November 13, 2013If not the $200k cop, what will spur change?
From Long Island Business News
What will it take for officials to finally do something to curb law enforcement salaries on Long Island, now hovering around $200,000?
I thought the 2008 economic crisis would do it. Then I thought Detroit’s bankruptcy would do it. Then I thought the new Suffolk County executive’s proposal to sell off county buildings and then lease them back would do it. Or the exposure of a Long Island Railroad scandal where 97 percent of retirees received bogus disability payments.
Nope.
One day, the Suffolk executive was crying about a $500 million deficit (radically overblown) and the next he was signing a contract granting $350 million in salary increases over eight years to a police department already among the highest paid in the nation. He rightfully claims that arbitration has traditionally given bad deals to the taxpayer, but two wrongs don’t make a right.
The new contract costs millions by reversing the reforms and civilianization of the past – including moving county police patrols back onto the Long Island Expressway – and giving blanket “education” bonuses whether or not an officer actually received more education. It claims to mitigate costs via a $17 million savings in healthcare that never materialized. It back-loaded most increases until after the reelection cycle, and claims savings from lower starting salaries that were already claimed in a previous arbitration.
The contract for just 340 detectives costs about the same as the contract for 5,500 rank-and-file workers in the Association of Municipal Employees union.
It’s hard to say that the county would have done worse in arbitration, but mandatory arbitration has led to six-week vacations, six-figure pensions, 50-plus sick and personal paid days off per year and termination pay over $200,000.
Don’t blame the average cop, who simply receives what was earned. Don’t even blame the union – while thuggish in its tactics, it’s just doing its job.
Blame the politicians who allow this to continue.
Where are the legislators who say “enough?” Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick, R-Smithtown, has a bill to cap these awards, but not a single state senator or majority Assembly member has signed on. If not a $227,000 law enforcement official, what will it take to initiate change?
Steve Levy
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