Westchester County Board of Legislators

Labor Committee

Minutes: Meeting of Monday, April 8, 2002

PRESENT:     Committee members – L. Bronz, M. Kaplowitz,

    J. Maisano, L. Mosiello, R. Wishnie, G. Latimer (Chair)

Staff – J. Cloidt, B. Dodds, C. Finger (Committee

    Counsel)

Guests – L. Alesio (Law), Michael Wittenberg,

    Bargaining Associates, Paul Ryan and Carol Craft

    (Westchester Putnam AFL-CIO)

1.       Call to Order

          The meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m. by Chair Latimer.

2.       Labor Negotiating

Chair Latimer introduced Mr. Michael Wittenberg, who is the County’s Labor Negotiator.  Chair Latimer asked Mr. Wittenberg to briefing explain his position with the County.  Mr. Wittenberg stated that he has been retained his 1998 to negotiate contracts with the County’s union workers.  He also attends meetings, participates in grievance handling and attends meetings one to two days a week with regards to Corrections 207-C.

Mr. Wittenberg stated that Hillary Raimondi in the Law Department handles all grievances now but he works with him and they confer daily.  His office when employed by the County was himself and a secretary.  He stated that most grievances get settled now and don’t need to be arbitrated.  He stated that up to recently he met with CSEA with regards to negotiations. 

Ms. Alesio from the Law Department stated that until three months ago she was the person who handled union issues but they are now handled by Ms. Raimondi with her assistance.

Mr. Wittenberg was asked to address the issues that CSEA had presented at the committee’s previous meeting.  He stated that he is involved with Items # 1 – County’s negotiator, # 2 – He and Tony Arena – Point person go to all meetings, Peter Costa is the Unions representative, # 3 – Negotiated item, # 4 – Part of contract – negotiated item; # 5 – Not represented; # 6 – on contract; # 7 – not applicable; # 8 – Jack McPhillips contacts him when he needs help; and # 9 – Can’t address.

Ms. Alesio addressed the same items - # 1 – not applicable, #2 – involved with issues; # 3 – signs off on release time; # 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 not applicable. 

Mr. Wittenberg then addressed the issue of parking – some employees pay $10 and some $60 – it is a very political matter.

No questions from Legislators and Mr. Wittenberg and Ms. Alesio were dismissed from the remainder of the meeting.

3.       Guest: Carol Craft – AFL-CIO Coordinator

Chair Latimer introduced Ms. Craft who explained that in the past the Committee has passed a resolution about right to organize and that they are wishing to have a new Right to Organize Resolution passed.  Language was changed in the resolution presented, drafts will be created to see the previously passed resolution and the new resolution side-by-side to review and discuss at next meeting.

4.       Suffolk County Labor Negotiator Position

Material distributed with regards to this position, in addition to material with regards to Westchester’s comparable position.  The Chair asked the committee to review it so that it could be discussed at the next meeting.

5.       New York State Labor Agenda

Material distributed about the New York State Labor agendas, the committee was asked to review the material and see if there were any issues that we could address on our level.

4.       Next meeting

Chair Latimer asked the committee if they would like to postpone the next meeting at there is a day meeting and their availability for an afternoon meeting.

On motion of Mr. Mosiello, seconded by Mr. Kaplowitz, the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.