A few months ago, Nassau's Unions all working together introduced legislation in Albany that would amend the Public Authorities Law (which created NIFA) in relation to salary step plans. The purpose of this legislation is to prevent the suspension of step increases for all employees of the county in the event of any future wage freeze by NIFA. This bill if enacted would provide a certain guarantee that employees will receive their contractual step ups that they are entitled to when they work towards the actual base pay that they were hired for as long as the County's four year multi year plan is accepted by NIFA. The bill provides that if the four-year plan has been accepted by NIFA, any wage freeze resolutions by NIFA shall not include steps/increments during that four-year period. This will help not only in preventing the crushing burden put on our newest employees as happened during the NIFA Wage Freeze, but also aids in recruitment and retention issues that arose out of that freeze.

This legislation was no easy task for Nassau's Unions as it would limit NIFA's authority to freeze Step Plans, which as we all know was the worst part of the Wage Freeze. Our newest Officers suffered the greatest pain and its effects are still felt today.

I am thrilled to announce that yesterday this Legislation passed both the NYS Senate and Assembly. Amending NIFA's authority is not an attack on NIFA, they have a difficult job after years of financial mismanagement in this County, but after hundreds of millions of dollars in voluntary and forced concessions came from the unions, it's high time that NIFA and the County found other ways to balance Nassau's budget. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly Earlene Hooper worked very hard at getting it passed on our behalf.

Now it's on to the Governor for either his signature amending the Law or his veto.

COBA will now work hard along with Nassau's other Unions to get the Governor's approval. Special thanks go out to the PBA's 1st VP Pete Paterson and our own 1st VP Pat McDevitt who along with Pete lobbied our State Senators and Assembly Members relentlessly to support this bill.

It could take a few months, but we will keep you informed as to the Governor's actions.

Also remember, we are still awaiting United States District Court Judge Wexler's Decision on the NIFA Lawsuit itself.