RYAN SAYS ABOLISH COUNTY'S "MINI-PERB" TO PRESERVE DUE PROCESS IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
Board Chair Introduces Legislation To Abolish The Westchester County Public Employment Relations Board So State Board Can Step In When Needed

September 10, 2007

To ensure due process in labor negotiations and eliminate governmental duplication, County Board Chair Bill Ryan (D-IN-WF, White Plains) today introduced legislation abolishing the Westchester County Public Employment Relations Board (WCPERB), which was created 40 years ago.

"WCPERB is a vestige of earlier times when Westchester County had many more employee organizations and bargaining units," said Ryan. "Given the realities of today's public employee labor environment, WCPERB is no longer needed. In fact, its continued existence can actually undermine the negotiations process."

Under current law, parties in a labor negotiation must go through WCPERB to request the appointment of a mediator if there's an impasse. But since WCPERB is not operational—its last remaining member's term expired in 2003—there’s no one to ask.

"Even though WCPERB is non-functioning, a union, which would be the party most prone to use it, can’t ask the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to appoint a mediator," said Ryan. “By abolishing WCPERB, the state will be able to step in and appoint a mediator." He noted that CSEA, the county's largest employee labor union, didn't have the option to bring in an impartial mediator in its current contract talks with the county. “CSEA’s inability to turn to the state is a perfect example of how WCPERB can hinder negotiations,” he said.

"This is about preserving a fundamental due process tool in labor negotiations," Ryan continued. "It's in everyone's interest to arrive at a contract settlement that's fair to employees and the county's taxpayers alike. Often a mediator is needed to get to that point."

Ryan said it made no sense to appoint new members to WCPERB rather than abolish it. “It’s rarely used and the state's PERB can handle any occasional Westchester-related labor matter requiring mediation more expeditiously,” he explained.

Ryan added that he would press to have his legislation discussed in time for the full Board to vote on it at its September 24th meeting.