14 The Queens Courier • FEBRUARY 20, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com politics Mayor settles first labor contract BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com/@CristabelleT The de Blasio administration is taking its first steps towards settling labor contracts that were left unresolved under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. An agreement has been reached with 200 Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officers who have been working without a contract since 2005, according to Kenneth Wynder, president of the Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association, which represents the officers. The terms of the settlement, decided on Thursday, February 13, include raises of 5 percent for 2005 and 4 percent for 2006 and 2007, with about $50,000 to $55,000 in back pay, Wynder said. It will also double their differential plan for working nights to 10 percent and up their uniform allowance to $1,000. The agreement settles their contract to 2008, according to Wynder. They plan on returning to the bargaining table with the city in July, he said. “It’s a step in the right direction and we are very happy with the new administration,” Wynder said. The officers tried to strike a deal with the Bloomberg administration several times, but the city refused to concede to any of their demands, according to Wynder. Bloomberg left office with more than 150 labor contracts still unresolved, some dating back as far as 2008. Those contracts are a large concern for the city’s budget. Mayor Bill de Blasio’s preliminary budget, presented on February 12, didn’t address those negotiations. The budget does provide extra money by restoring $1 billion to the Retiree Health Benefits Trust Fund and is increasing the city’s general reserve funds from $300 to $600 million. During the presentation, de Blasio said giving workers back pay, which could reportedly cost more than $7 billion, is not off the table. At an unrelated press conference on Tuesday, February 18, he said the deal on back pay struck with the DEP officers, however, didn’t indicate his intentions with future negotiations because that was a special situation. Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said in an interview with WYNC Monday that back pay would be a “big issue” in contract negotiations with the de Blasio administration. Photo courtesy of NYC Department of Environmental Protection Messer might run again BY MELISA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com @MelissaCourier John Messer is mulling over another run for State Senate, he told The Courier. “I am dedicated to this community, which is why I have been driven towards public service and am seriously considering a run for New York State Senate,” he said. It would be the Oakland Gardens attorney’s third try at defeating incumbent State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, who has held the seat for nearly 15 years. Most recently, Messer lost a contentious two-way Democratic primary to Stavisky in 2012. The heated race was waged principally on negative campaign attacks. Stavisky won 58 percent of the vote, though Messer said he has not lost momentum. “I believe now, more than ever, that this is a community I want to represent,” said Messer, 43. “If anything, it’s a stronger feeling.” A Senate Democratic spokesperson said Stavisky “has now defeated Mr. Messer twice, despite the fact that he has spent over $1 million.” “The voters of the district see Mr. Messer for what he is — a Republican surrogate,” said Mike Murphy. The district encompasses parts of Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Bayside, Oakland Gardens, Rego Park, Elmhurst, Forest Hills and Jackson Heights. “There are things you look at before you decide to run — finances, family,” Messer said. “We’ll make a decision soon.” THE COURIER/File photo John Messer De Blasio appointments continue Mayor Bill de Blasio made the following appointments to his administration this past week: Maya Wiley: Counsel to the Mayor, Donna M. Corrado: Commissioner, Department for the Aging Emily Lloyd: Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection. Pols help inspect seawall Congressmember Steve Israel (second from left) recently joined with LeHavre resident Steve Young (left), City Councilmember Paul Vallone (third from left) and LeHavre Owners Corporation manager Margaret Costello to inspect LeHavre’s seawall. QUEENS SNAPS Send us your photos of Queens and you could see them online or in our paper! Submit them to us via our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ QueensCourier, by tweeting @queenscourier or by emailing them to ctumola@queenscourier.com.
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