Acrimony Over Pact: Mediator Tapped In Jail Captains' Talks

Acrimony Over Pact

Mediator Tapped In Jail Captains' Talks

By REUVEN BLAU

The Office of Collective Bargaining last week appointed a mediator to help restart stalled contract talks between the Correction Captains' Association and the Office of Labor Relations. CCA President Peter D. Meringolo, who has petitioned OCB to declare an impasse, welcomed the intermediary, OCB Deputy Chair Susan Panepento. "If they play games now, she will see it," he said.

PETER D. MERINGOLO: 'City playing games.'

City Says CCA Stalled

Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley has emphatically denied that an impasse exists, noting that Mr. Meringolo waited over two years to schedule contract negotiations.

The CCA along with the city's other uniformed unions held off negotiating until the Public Employment Relations Board issued the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association contract award last June, hoping that accord would set a favorable pattern.

"Everybody waited," Mr. Meringolo bristled. "They were not interested in settling with a small union."

Ms. Panepento, who met separately with OLR officials and the CCA last week, said that she will try to facilitate negotiations. "I've asked both sides to come together before the end of the month to see if any movement can be achieved, but I don't have a date scheduled," she said.

JAMES F. HANLEY: Says union caused delay. During a May 2 conference with Ms. Panepento, Mr. Meringolo charged that the city has failed to negotiate in good faith by demanding that the union create an annual 48-hour overtime bank without direct compensation.

Hanley: 'He Made It Up'

Mr. Hanley responded, "Those who are not seasoned feel compelled to make things up."

Mr. Meringolo noted that he has negotiated four contracts without ever petitioning OCB to declare an impasse during his extended tenure as CCA president. "Hanley needs to stop making things personal," he charged.

According to Mr. Meringolo, city negotiators are also insisting that as part of the new contract, the union disavow an arbitration decision that requires the department to specifically staff security-sensitive areas in jails. "I told Susan those things are not negotiable," Mr. Meringolo said. In addition, the union president contended that OLR has failed to supply values for various concessions the union has offered to help finance the same 10.25-percent raise under the PBA's 2-year attrition based award.

"Everything I've asked for a value on they said they aren't interested," he remarked. "They are giving to the big guys, while beating up on the little guys."

'Who's Unprepared?'

Mr. Hanley countered, "It's hard for him to say we didn't come prepared. Which meeting were we unprepared for? The ones he didn't ask for or the ones he put together at the last minute and didn't show up for and then filed for impasse?"

Mr. Meringolo said he missed the last meeting due to a personal issue, but was apprised of what occurred and was always reachable via his cell phone. "Because my members come first, I did not want to cancel the meeting because of me," he added, noting that Mr. Hanley himself did not attend that conference.

"Would they have given me a better deal if I was there?" he asked incredulously.

Within the past month, the unions representing the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association and the Assistant Deputy Wardens'/Deputy Wardens' Association have both negotiated new contracts with the city. Those deals have placed added pressure on the CCA, insiders said.

"That's what I think the city is banking on - that I'll agree to anything," Mr. Meringolo said. "If there is a deal out there, it needs to be constructive. We are prepared to negotiate around the clock."