Mineola, N.Y. - Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and John E. Duer, President of the Sheriff Officers Association, today announced a historic labor agreement that will end overtime abuse at the Nassau County Correctional Center. The new six-year contract will reduce total overtime at the jail, as well as reduce excessive overtime obtained by specific officers. Moreover, the County has obtained significant savings from this agreement while meeting the savings targets in the multi-year plan that was approved by the legislature and endorsed by the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA).

County Executive Suozzi (right) speaks at a press conference announcing the labor agreement that will end overtime abuse at the Nassau County Correctional Center. Joining him is Sheriff Officers Association President John Duer.

"Everyone agrees that excessive overtime by a few officers at the county correctional facility has been outrageous. Today we are fixing that problem," said County Executive Suozzi. "With this agreement, we have achieved what we set out to when we inherited a fiscally-corrupt county - proving that smart government can negotiate labor agreements that are both fiscally responsible and fair."

"This is a great example of how county government and its unions can work together to make positive changes," said Mr. Duer. "From the very beginning of these negotiations, our objective was to provide the hardworking members of this union a fair and equitable contract that would not increase the financial burden on Nassau's taxpayers. We have achieved our goal."

The contract corrects major policy problems that have resulted in excessive overtime use. Based on this agreement, there will be a ceiling on what an individual correction officer can earn so that the total amount earned in overtime never exceeds the base pay for the top officer in that rank. Also of significance is the reduction in the overtime rate, which is currently 1.74 pay for each hour of overtime worked. That "overtime denominator" will gradually be reduced to straight time-and-a-half, or 1.5, by the year 2010, resulting in a savings of $17.6 million during the contract. The new agreement also limits the amount of overtime that can be worked in any given month to no more than 152 hours, thereby protecting the safety and welfare of corrections officers.

"Last week's news reports of an officer earning over $230,000, with much of it coming from overtime, was outrageous," said the County Executive. "Today's announcement makes clear two simple facts: this was a contract this administration inherited. And this won't happen again."

The new agreement calls for 20% increase in pay over six years, starting with a 2.5% raise in 2005 and 3.5% for each of the next five years, including a six-month wage freeze in 2008, which saves the county $2.2 million. The multi-year plan had anticipated a 3.5% increase in the first year. The new agreement is particularly favorable to the county when compared with the agreement that was signed in 2001 under the prior administration, retroactive to 1998, which called for a 26.5% increase over seven years with minimal givebacks from the union. The current contract results in a net savings of $30 million to the county.

Among the other savings realized by the county: a revised salary plan for new hires will save the county $6.9 million. Also, all officers will be paid straight time versus overtime rate for their first 24 hours of overtime worked, as compared to 16 hours under the prior agreement. This results in a savings of $6.2 million. In addition, the first 40 hours of mandated training for new hires will no longer result in the county incurring overtime costs to fill in for the officer being trained, resulting in a $700,000 savings. Other policy initiatives that are geared toward reducing overtime include: a strengthened sick leave and workers' compensation (207c plan) policy that will involve bonus payments to officers who don't abuse these benefits, as well as civilianization.

As part of the contract, corrections officers will be given additional funds for equipment, uniform maintenance and longevity. In addition, the bonus for working non-regular shifts will be increased to 12%.

The contract must be ratified by both the Nassau County Legislature and the Sheriff Officers Association