Kingston Professional Firefighters Association President Tom Tiano. (Photo: Mike Carey)
“It’s almost like he doesn’t want to make a deal with us,” said Tiano. “Because he keeps throwing stuff out there at the last minute that he knows we won’t agree to.”
Gallo this week denied making misleading statements about the union’s demands. According to Gallo, when the KPFFA declared talks at an impasse, the union was still holding out for three-year contract with a 5 percent raise, an increase in longevity pay and no additional payments for health care. Gallo said he would provide more details on the union’s demands in an upcoming press release.
“There was no misrepresentation,” said Gallo. “And I think the public is going to be shocked when they realize what these guys are asking for.”
Tiano said he believes Gallo is hoping that the negotiations will be settled in binding arbitration. A decision handed down by an arbitrator, he said, would give the mayor political cover and an excuse for failing to live up to his get-tough rhetoric.
If that’s the plan, Tiano said, Gallo may end up disappointed. Under state law, specifically the Triborough Amendment to the Taylor Law, municipal employees working without a contract do not get raises, but work rules and provisions from the expired contract remain in effect. According to Tiano, since the union had already agreed to forgo raises, they had nothing to lose by standing on provisions-including capped health care payments and minimum staffing rules contained in the previous labor agreement. Arbitration by contrast, could force the union to give ground on work rules in exchange for a small raise.
“When you go to arbitration, you always lose something,” said Tiano. “From our members’ point of view it might make sense to just wait it out, hope he’s a one-term mayor and make a deal with the next guy.”
I thought Gallo was a union attorney? I am so surprised he can’t negotiate a fair contract? Is he good at anything other then being angry all the time?
Gallo’s and Zwieben’s pursuit of old pay records is counter productive and against the public’s interest: the city has a responsibility establish clear and fair and certain processes with its employees. Furthermore, this pursuit without estimates of costs of the search against some estimate against returns… that’s fiscally irresponsible. Finally, penalizing employees that followed established policy and there being no reasonable possibility of willful erroneous pay claims, the search seems to be more crusade than administration, an Inspector Jabert and in fact, Gallo and Zwieben have both claimed not only the following of intractable law but have invoked the constitution… aside from that being just silly, it is also very poor law… for people trained in the law and paid and empowered to enforce it, this is no small matter.
To the extent that Gallo serves the city well, he has a duty to work towards re election and continuing of the good work. To the extent that he embarks on ineffective and disruptive quests, he doubly works against the public interest by damaging the city and damaging his re election efforts.
He’s also hurting his efforts to have the union join in binding arbitration which this writer supports.
I have to support he Mayor on this one. Politically, he’s bound to the Working Families Party, strong supporters of unions. He wouldn’t be following a hard line of contract negotiations with the union(s) if it wasn’t absolutely essential to the City of Kingston’s fiscal well-being.
Let’s see, Gallo is looking out for the entire city of which the firefighters are a part, and the firefighters are looking out for: the firefighters. And while the city will accept binding arbitration, the union won’t.
I think that’s a great argument for making sure Gallo is reelected… over an above the recommendation of his hard work, active involvement and knowledge of the city.
Mr. Gallo has made himself very available to the citizens: he steps out of his office with great frequency attending and supporting public meeting and affairs. He is generous with his time and people who are unfavorable or indifferent to the Gallo administration, who when treated to a well thought out reason for actions and programs of Kingston, come away greatly impressed with the thoughtful and excellent government being provided.
Tiano and this Union offer no good reasons for citizens to oppose this mayor