Provides procedures for resolution of disputes in collective negotiations for organized units of county correction officers and deputy sheriff-jailers

Title of bill

An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to resolution of disputes in the course of collective negotiations for organized units of county correction officers and deputy sheriff-jailers

Purpose

Allows a public employer to enter into written agreements with any organized unit of county correction officers and deputy sheriff-jailers setting forth procedures to use for dispute resolution.

Summary of provisions

Subdivision 2 of section 209 of the Civil Service Law is amended. The opening paragraph of subdivision 4 of section 209 of the Civil Service Law is amended and a new paragraph (h) is added.

Justification

Binding arbitration for all local firefighters and police was initially adopted in 1974 (Chapters 724 and 725 of the Laws of 1974). The purpose of the law was to provide a fair method for resolving contractual disputes involving police and firefighters and in turn to avoid strikes by employees who provide critical public safety services.

Binding arbitration for compensatory issues was extended to State Police negotiations in 1995 (Chapters 432 and 437 of the Laws of 1995) for the same reasons. In 2001, and again in 2003, binding arbitration for compensatory issues was also extended to over 20,000 State Correction Officers and deputy sheriffs (Chapter 586 of 2001 and Chapter 696 of 2003).

Similar to State Police, local police, firefighters, State Correction Officers and deputy sheriffs, county correction officers face the same inherent dangers on a daily basis while performing analogous public safety services. Recognizing this fact, the Suffolk County Legislature issued a Home Rules Message in support of legislation extending binding arbitration for compensatory issues to correction officers in the employ of Suffolk County, which ultimately resulted in the enactment of Chapter 737 of the Laws of 2005.

In turn, it is logical to expand protection of the public interest by extending the binding arbitration law to include all negotiating units for County Correction Officers and deputy sheriff-jailers. This law is necessary to ensure orderly continuous protection of the public during protracted county contract negotiations.

Legislative history

2004: S.6770/A.11117 - Remained in Committee 2005: S.2461/A.5981 - Remained in Committee 2006: S.2461-A/A.5981-A - Remained in Committee 2008: S.3273/A.3206 - Remained in Committee

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that the amendments to subdivision 2 of section 209 of the civil service law made by section one of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such subdivision pursuant to section 3 of chapter 485 of the laws of 1990, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect; and provided further that the amendments to subdivision 4 of section 209 of the civil service law, made by sections three and four of this act, shall not affect the repeal of such subdivision and shall be deemed repealed therewith.