Rich,
First , Boo Hoo Hoo,
Second you stated "treated equitably and respectfully" how were they not treated equitably? or respectfully? Can you provide details on either?
Third, wouldn't the unions resources be better spent figuring out where the workers will park our trucks while stopping for their breakfast and lunch breaks at the new deli opening in the middle of town?

I'm sure everyone who works in the private sector will be very receptive to your whining about pay decreases while they struggle to find a job, let alone one that requires an army of lawyers and red tape to get fired from.

Or maybe not.

And he could have easily said "A larger-than-life example of their contributions to quality of life in Long Beach came last summer when they did their job",
Woo hoo, they did what they were hired to do, I guess that must be somewhat surprising to Mr Impagliazzo

"They plow the streets when it snows." unless it is on Christmas Weekend.

How does this administration justify cutting the pay of these hard working people under the guise of saving money while they hire their political supporters, even though there is a so-called hiring freeze, a fiscal "emergency" and they specifically promised not to hire any family or friends during their campaign? The hypocrisy is unprecedented.... An they should be ashamed of themselves. The savings by cutting these salaries was $40,000 which is what they are paying their political friend and supporter Mike Cruz who was hired last week!

The only ones who DESERVE A RAISE not a DECREASE are the sanitation workers...everyone else has always been overpaid...just my opinion, and no, I am not related, nor do I even personally know a sanitation worker...I just silently observe.

I suppose the City has the right to stabilize its forces. Were these people demoted equitably, as dictated by seniority? Were the agreements followed? If so, you have no gripe. It's within the City's rights.

But if exempt workers are now doing your jobs, or if favoritism was used to dictate the cuts, you have a valid grievance.

You really didn't make your point very clear. Maybe you should let someone else write your next letter.

By the way, I'd like to publicly thank James Hodge for his support in the election. With James' help, we could never have done this to all of you!

FIRING UPDATE! Last night, a woman named Ilene Heshion spoke out critically of the new city council. She had done so a few time over the past two months. Her sister, Mary Jambalvo, is a woman who has worked for the city for close to 10 years. Well, I guess the new council didn't like the fact that this employees sister was speaking out too loudly against them....she was FIRED today! So much for transparency!

Remember boys that 99% of these workers and their families live in town and they vote. Schnirman will be gone soon and you guys will be out after the next election!

But after that, then who joe?

Councilmember Mike Fagen wrote a letter to all CSEA members on November 5, 2011, just before election day. In the letter to CSEA employees he promised, "The democrats believe that the CSEA rank and file are the heart and soul of the City workforce. Your hard work and, on average, are paid the least. If the Democratic team is successful on election day our mission will be simple. We are going to restore respect and dignity to the workforce. Employees will NOT be subjected to retaliation or intimidation as a result of their political affiliation. The rank and file will be respected and your hard work will be rewarded. This is our promise to the rank and file."

Did you guys actually believe him when he wrote that!

what a shame.how much do most of these guys make on an average.are they highly paid.we all know how cheap it is to live here.just seems to me there looking for the small guys that work hard to save some money.then hire friends to pay them.

Its only been a month or 2--and it alreadys seems like its time for this "CLOWN" Jack Schnirman and the City Council to GO !
Can we do the election over !!
LoL :-)

We have no money! Would you rather they fire the people or reduce the pay? This tax payer says GREAT JOB! Who else can we reduce pay on? How about cutting some benefits or making people pay a little more? Again stop hiring unqualified friends!

no promotions in last admin budget, just favors to supporters - no layoofs, no demotions, just goodbye to favor money

Hilarious. It's the most abusive system in every way. The TAXPAYER is the victim. HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT CSEA MEMBERS DO NOT (and never have) CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR THEMSELVES OR FOR THEIR FAMILIES? How many people go without or scrape by to pay for their medical costs? How many of US go without treatment because we can't afford it? Yet, WE are paying for their free ride. It's coming out of my pocket, and I have nothing to say about it because of an abusive and corrupt system. The real victims are the taxpayers who pick up the tab daily for their extensive benefits, free healthcare, vision, dental, days off,, holidays, vacations, raises, bonuses, increases and "longevity pay?" Many elderly are leaving the LI homes and communities they've lived in for decades because they are unable to pay their taxes. Yet, CSEA has a FREE ride. Or the young people who have to flee the area for lack of opportunity? Or those of US who slave away, pay for our OWN medical benefits, do not get raises, bonuses, promotions or increases, liberal days off. We are too busy working multiple jobs to PAY for THEIR benefits. You, Sir, are WAY off base.

.

First they come for the union workers and strip them of their living wage and benefits.

Then when that is gone non-umion workers have no bar to measure against and the robber barons lower their pay and benefits next.

The moron rats that are sniping at the CSEA are cutting their own throats.

Keep it up.

The scumbag that pays your salary loves it.

The DEMONCRATS lied to CSEA Members.

CSEA Members must now get the DEMONCRATS out of City Hall by allying themselves with the REPUBLICANS!

DEMONCRATS built the Projects, Waldbaums, the Super Block and other BLIGHT in Long Beach.

DEMONCRATS are responsible for Long Island and Long Beach becoming expensive hell holes with the middle class jumping ship like fleas from a dead animal.

WAKE UP PEOPLE vote REPUBLICAN or you get DEMONCRATS who will pick your pocket of taxes, demote or fire you, and kick you in your Fat Ass when your back is turned.

Repeat after me... DEMONCRATS MUST GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Class envy time! Let's see -- cops, teachers, railroad workers; now you're envious of $32,000 water plant guys! Pathetic. Just because you may have spent your life smoking pot and never advanced to a living wage is no reason to rue these fellows do do jobs you apparently judge as beneath your lofty qualifications. Would you go out in the rain and snow and hump 1000 cans of garbage each day? No, not you.

So rather than sober up, learn a skill and get a real job, you whine.

Look, I probably pay more taxes than most folks here. I own lots of property. And I complain more loudly about police boats and political hacks.

Sorry, dude. The guys who take my garbage, filter my water and process may tax checks are my heroes. And they deserve every penny they make and every benefit their families enjoy. I'm glad to pay them.

TO LYNN: Yes, actually, I do. In my office, two clerical workers make $72,000+ without a degree, and one makes $84,000+ with an AA degree. I don't know who you're talking about, but my DIRECT experience is that these salaries would NEVER be made in the private sector. (I have nothing but the highest regard for our sanitation personnel, but wake up, you can't take one department and make that the norm. Throughout the COUNTY it is NOT!!

At least we all agree that the system is dysfunctional and that reform is needed.

"How many people go without or scrape by to pay for their medical costs? How many of US go without treatment because we can't afford it?"

How about advocating for affordable, decent health care for all citizens, rather than arguing that union members have crappy unaffordable health care like the private sector?

Anna: Union members have FREE excellent coverage at the cost of the taxpayer. Please read and research carefully. As a non-union member, I have to contribute to mine, have higher copays, and less access to what I need--in addition to making a significantly lower salary than less-educated, experienced members of my staff. I don't know ANYONE in the private sector who doesn't contribute to their health care preminums or costs. Only in the public sector is it completely FREE to union members AND their families. That is the issue. What institution or agency can affort that? So, if it is an unsustainable system, who is ulitmately paying for it? The same poor tax-paying slobs who are paying for their own(or doing without), and then have to pay for public employees. That's unfair. Please check your facts.

So get a union job testy - I'm sure your salary would be considerably less than what you are paid in the private sector. Its a trade off. I'm not saying that union members should not pay anything towards healh care (although I have my doubts that your claim that they pay absolutely nothing is true - not even co-pays?). But your suggestion that health care should be unaffordable for union members and their families, or for anyone for that matter, is deplorable.

What it boils down to, is why should SOME public employees (because of their affiliation) get government-subsidized and citizen-paid FREE health insurance for themselves and their families, when regular citizens do not? Why is it OK to discriminate against who gets public-paid free medical insurance because of a person's place of employment? This would seem to be leaning toward socialism--however, only if it was for ALL. It is not. The benefit only goes to SOME government employees. How is this fair? Equal work for equal pay doesn't exist in Nassau's system, and neither does the distribution of benefits that are paid for by you and me. Why does the government (County of Nassau) sees fit to subsidize for only SOME citizens and not others? That is unreasonable. Why can't everyone avail themselves of free county-paid health insurance? Because the few with the loudest voices and the power to slow down public services prevail? I personally feel discriminated against and you should too. The public needs to show up at legislative sessions and hearings and let their voice be known as well.

Here's the bottom line boys and girls...

The public sector is 100% supported by the private sector.

So if the private sector can't pay for the public sector then the public sector must be contracted.

That contraction can come in the form of job or salary cuts but it MUST come.

Our city, county, state and country are collectively trillions of dollars in debt so clearly something must change and increasing taxes is NOT the answer.

The private sector is overburdened as it is which is reflected in the unemployment rate hovering around 9%.

YOU, public sector employees, work for the taxpayer (yes, you pay taxes yourself but think about it...do you pay enough to cover your salary and benefits? Ah...no.)And if the taxpayer can no longer afford YOU then YOU will be forced to change whether you like or not.

Not many in the private sector like being forced to change but change creates opportunity and private sector opportunity is what pays YOUR bills.

Am I missing something here? "..with loyalty, dedication and going above and beyond the call of duty". So you're saying they were doing the job they were hired to do and even more? What "more". Loyalty and dedication are a minimum. If you're not those things, you should be fired. Am I correct in assuming "...preserve the beaches, boardwalks, bathrooms and parks.." is also park of the job? Ah, I see it now, they cleaned up after the hurricane with "earnest". And no where in the union contract does it say doing the job you are paid to do has to be done with "earnest". Give me a break! It's belt tightening and budget cutting times everywhere. They'll live through this to see another raise. I like this Mr. Schnirman. I think he gets it. This Atlantic barrier island, and all it's corruption and political ineptitude, has been functioning more like some backwater Okefenokee Swamp town than a City by the Sea just miles from Manhattan.

Everyone on this site is missing the point. There are 450 workers for the city of Long Beach. Why are they just going after the lowest paid workers who average $40,000 k, while other employees in the city clear 6 figures. If there has to be cutbacks, it has to be fair and equitable for all employees, not just the CSEA. Thats my interpretation of the article.

10 years ago private sector people were laughing at the poor public sector workers. Now that the private sector gravy train has gone down the drain with it's company cars charge cards and bonuses, all u mortgage brokers and financial workers, who creat nothing and skim money from us poor public workers. Reep what you sow. To bad when you were younger you didn't take that civil service test.

Uh, Bill....you obviously didn't read my previous post "Public Sector Money Doesn't Grow on Trees" or else you would understand that the mortgage brokers, hedge funders, stock brokers, computer programmers, contractors, etc. are the ones who provide money for the public sector. Without them....you don't exist. But that's okay...you are just taking your cue from our beloved federal gov't (both parties) who prints money like crazy so to them, it really does grow on trees.

All those mortgage brokers financial advisors do is get us public sector workers to invest in your Ponsi schemes and give us loans we cannot afford and cause us to lose all our investments, all you did was take take take until now the fravy train has ended for you, so now all you do is complain about our salaries and benefits. You should have saved some of your money when the times were good instead of buying that giant boat or house in florida. I worked 2 full time blue collar jobs for 13 years before I was able to work only one job and actually see my family

How True ! Anyone of you CLOWNS could have taken a civil service test."
When times were good , you people wouldn't even dream being a civil servant*
You should have taken the Test !!!!!!!!!! True !! Now that your Gravy Train Crashed , Now you complain about what Civil servants make!
Put out your own Fire ! Pick up your own garbage * police your own streets *
A Job 90% of you CLOWNS on here would never do *
Now Stop Complaining , they give Civil Service tests everyday !!
Go take one and SHUT UP *
:-) wah wah !

I must agree although I am not that straightfoward, if we didn't have civil servants we would be back in the stone ages. Who are you going to call when your sewer backs up. How about when a rabid dog terrorizes your neighborhood. Just a point in case I made a spelling error, I have a 10th grade education. But as long as I have 2 good hands and a strong back I will always feed my family and then some. And will never complain about the millions private sector made in the past. The gravy train is over people you better learn how to make a living with your own two hands.

And by the way we do make time and a half and double time, while you private sector people enjoyed your thanksgiving Christmas and Chanukah's with your families. Now you can enjoy your holidays on unemployment for 2 1/2 years while my taxes from my public sector job pays the freight.

Sorry I am just trying to preserve my way of life, now that the private section has tanked, the newspapers are taking every chance to make everyone know how the public sector is doing and enve is showing it's evil head, our benefits are part of our salaries. We make less money but have good benefits. Yes some of us pay a portion of our benefits and pensions plus copayment. Yes we know our pay comes taxes but we WORK for our living, you wana go after someone go after the welefare program. I get drug tested randomly and I work for my money. Do welfare recipients get drug tested for their money

The point is stop blaming the little guy who cleans out the sewers or makes the streets safe or teaches our children or puts out the fires. When the stockmarket goes back up and all you private sector schemers find a way to make a buck again you will forget about us Civil servants. There is no keyboard banging going on here or personal attacks. I chose to be a civil servant for this stability. I will never become rich when the stockmarket goes up, but I will ba able to take care of my family when the market goes down. Point made

Paul I love having clean streets and the most beautiful sandy beaches on the east coast and I like the flowers on the malls for all the seasons and the beautiful holiday display the city puts up for all of us each year, I love the supervised recreation programs and all the other things long beach has to offer. Just because the private sector has gone bust and now my taxes have to pay all this private sector unemployment. Please please stop blaming the little 40 to 70 thousand dollar earner. Just move to the city where the taxes are a lot less and the streets are filthy and the beaches are zoos

At the end of the day, we have hard workers in the CSEA union and I appreciate all that they do... If you want a shot at their salary + benefits, we welcome you because most of you think you're too good... Until then, stop your criticisms. Maybe you should criticise the friends and family hired from Suffolk, at higher pay rates that Schirnman and the council hired who do LB no gpod!

Back in 2008 when Lehman, Bear Stearns, AGI and Merrill Lynch started floundering,three personal friends of mine worked at these firms. To a man their main concern was for their January bonuses. Forget the fact that the performance of the employer across the board cost untold numbers of investors to lose their life savings; this was personal. I guess that makes sense; charity does begin at home, and how you pay your bills is a priority in any household. But it just seems wrong. If you work for a company that's going under due to systemic underperformance, why should you be rewarded when you've caused so much suffering? Compare these folks to the civil servants who are presently being subjected to such harsh scrutiny. Do you wish to dig out your street from a blizzard, cart your own trash to the dump, put out your own house fire or drive yourself to the hospital with chest pains? I think not. The point is that these people perform necessary services for not too much money. Ease up.

And we are not looking for a pat on the back, these are our jobs. We do them willingly we dont want anything we didnt bargained for collectively. Please stop attacking us publicly we are just trying to get by in these tough fiscal times. To be honest this class warfare which by the way is no war of ours is all brought upon by the media.

I empathize with anyone losing their job or suffering a demotion in grade in the current economy, but I fail to see where they have the right to complain about it.

The last administration gave out promotions and grade changes to their faithful supporters like lollipops on Halloween. Of course the workers involved didn't know it was all a ruse to temporarily purchase their support in the run-up to a tough election. Even if the Coalition had held power, those promotions and grade changes would still need to be 'repossessed' due to the now disclosed financial shenanigans of the prior administration. Just as it was wrong for the administration to have engaged in such a cruel course, so too is it wrong for the beneficiaries of these promotions and grade changes to bemoan the loss of something the City couldn't really afford to give them in the first place.

I have to think that whatever reductions that have taken place to date (as well as those yet to come) will be in accordance with the applicable contractual provisions governing grade changes and bumping rights for retreating workers. It stinks for those affected, but everything is on the table in times such as these. The City has a big hole it needs to fill. Every little bit helps.

I'm lost as to just what you're implying. If you have something to say, go right ahead and say it. I, for one, welcome truth. For truth is my friend. That you may think otherwise only calls into question the quality of what you consider the truth.

Go ahead, fire away. I'm sure it will give you great relief to unburden yourself from your self-imposed restraint. Oh, and while you're at it, maybe you'll consider posting it under your actual name, just like I do; always. I think it lends credibility; don't you agree?

In my line of work we stand behind our word. The city gave it's word to these people that they received raises. Now the City has gone back on it's word which is wrong. These people might have purchased something recently in the new reality of their paycheck. To take that way is wrong. I will say that it might not have been the most prudent thing to do, but they probably had no clue that the city's finances were in such bad shape. I don't see any individuals complaining; what I do see is a union trying to stick up for itself so it gets treated fairly. I understand the whole fiscal crisis thing, but I for one believe in the ideal of standing behind my word. The city gave it's word and now has gone back on it. That is the bottom line, and I respectfully disagree with anyone who see's this differently.

Fair enough Mr. Gusler, but I would have to disagree. I don't have to tell a person of your intellect that assuming is not a good way to go about life. You know what they say about the idea of to assume; it makes an ass out of u and me! We really don't have any clue as to how the coalition would have tried to solve our financial problem. What I do agree with is the idea that the city workforce is used as pawns in the political gamesmanship of controlling this city. Sad that the worker has to feel the brunt of it; sad but true.