CSEA Local 830 members from Nassau County Public Works have been working since the summer on a project at 400 County Seat Drive in Mineola, where they are constructing a brand new work area for the Nassau Probation Department. The 15,000 square foot area will have several brand new rooms for Probation officers to interview clients and a wide open new office space. As of the end of October this project was near completion.

 

However, on Wednesday, October 14, union representatives from the Nassau-Suffolk Building Trades Council showed up in front of 400 County Seat with a 15 foot inflatable rat. Representatives standing next to the rat said that they felt Nassau DPW should not be doing this work because it was outside their jurisdiction, despite the fact that it is county workers doing a county job.   “We have the carpenters, the masons, the electricians… all the people that are needed for a job of this size,” President Jerry Laricchiuta said. “It actually saves the county money to keep the job in house, and not contract out to a private contractor.”

 

After meeting with union officials from the Nassau-Suffolk Building Trades on Thursday, October 15, they agreed to take the rat down. And by looking at the great job done by the CSEA members, it appears that keeping the job with the county workers was the right move.

 

Vincent Monteforte

Bob Pantina

Frank Caiazzo