Long Island Working Families Battle Attack on Middle Class (Mangano's union bill)

[Omaha Steve]

Run time: 03:15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX07d5ucGzc   Posted on YouTube: October 14, 2011 By YouTube Member: LIFEDvideo Views on YouTube: 520   Posted on DU: October 17, 2011 By DU Member: Omaha Steve Views on DU: 433

 

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/10/17/long-island-working-families-battle-attack-on-middle-class/

by Tula Connell, Oct 17, 2011

The attacks on the middle class and the ability of public employees to bargain collectively are spreading from Wisconsin and Ohio to Long Island’s Nassau County, where a proposed bill would gives the county executive the right to unilaterally open contracts and decide what provisions the executive wants to retain, change or eliminate.

Jerry Laricchiuta, president of the Civil and State Employees Association (CSEA) Local 830 in Nassau County, puts the issue bluntly in the video here.

We’re not only defending our rights here in Nassau County, we’re defending the sanctity of the cotnract which has ripple effects across the country.

Or as Suzanne Tirino, president of the Crossing Guard Unit, CSEA Local 830, says:

To open our contracts is unfair, it’s unconstitutional. If our contracts are opened, what do we believe in after that?