BOARD VOTES TO ABOLISH COUNTY'S "MINI-PERB"
Board Chair says eliminating the WCPERB important to ensuring due process in labor negotiations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2007

In order to ensure more efficient and productive labor negotiations, the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted unanimously to abolish the Westchester County Public Employment Relations Board (WCPERB). County Board Chair Bill Ryan (D-White Plains) said he introduced the legislation because WCPERB had become an antiquated body that had outlived its usefulness.

WCPERB was established in 1967 by the County Board of Supervisors (the legislative body that preceded the Board of Legislators) as an independent agency dedicated to mediating and resolving labor disputes during the course of collective negotiations with county employees.

"I am pleased my colleagues took this step toward streamlining county government. By eliminating WCPERB – which has been non-functioning for years – labor negotiations in the county can progress more expeditiously," said Ryan. "It's in everyone's interest to arrive at a contract settlement that's fair to county employees and taxpayers alike. Abolishing WCPERB is a necessary step to reach that goal.”

Ryan noted that the existence of WCPERB was actually undermining labor negotiations. 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.

"This creates a tremendous hindrance to labor negotiations in Westchester County. The mere existence of WCPERB prohibited labor unions from contacting the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to appoint a mediator," said Ryan. “By abolishing WCPERB, the state can be approached during an impasse to appoint a mediator."

He noted that CSEA, the county's largest employee labor union, in its current contract talks with the county, does not have the option to bring in an impartial mediator. “CSEA’s inability to turn to the state is a perfect example of how WCPERB can slow down the negotiation process,” Ryan said.

County Legislator Vito Pinto (D-Tuckahoe), Legislation Committee Chair, said WCPERB was no longer needed. “Appointing a new WCPERB just doesn't make sense, especially when the state PERB can perform the same duties more effectively. I’m sure that by terminating the local board, we will have more productive labor negotiations going on in Westchester,” Pinto said.

County Legislator Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers), Chair of the Public Works, Transportation, Labor & Parks Committee, said, "WCPERB's procedures have not been updated since 1975! Terminating WCPERB will streamline the process of negotiating collective bargaining agreements."