Nassau County Lawmakers Vote Unanimously To End 3-Year Wage Freeze
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A major hurdle has been passed in lifting a wage freeze for Nassau County workers.
As WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported, the county legislature voted 19-0 to end a three-year wage freeze on county employees, despite some concerns.
"For us, it becomes a question of how you pay for it," Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) said. "We want to be able to say with confidence today that the revenue is there and the county executive has not put the revenue forward."
The county is still awaiting for approval from the state for speed cameras, which would help pay for the $120 million contracts over the next four years.
Police Benevolent Association President James Carver said he thinks lifting the wage freeze is the right thing to do.
"It gets the workforce to move forward, that's good for the county and that's good for the county workers," he told Xirinachs. "It's a win-win for everybody."
The move granted approval for contracts that reinstate cost-of-living wages in exchange for union givebacks. The action also sets lower salary scales and begins health care contributions for future hires.
Nassau's fiscal control board - known as NIFA - must still approve the deal.
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