Move Bill For 9/11 Disability For Mechanics

Move Bill For 9/11 Disability For Mechanics

City-employed Auto Mechanics may soon be eligible for 9/11 pension benefits under the World Trade Center Disability Law.

JOE COLANGELO: Members unfairly 'locked out.' That law, enacted by Governor Pataki in June 2005, guaranteed disability pensions to municipal employees who fall ill as a result of work at Ground Zero. It was meant to cover all public employees who labored both on 9/11 and in subsequent months, but some of the law's criteria unwittingly excluded 1,000 Auto Mechanics who assisted the city's rescue and recovery work.

Expands Covered Area

Now, a fast-tracked piece of legislation awaiting final approval from Governor Pataki would rectify that oversight by expanding some of the law's geographical boundaries. It will cover mechanics who are represented by Service Employees' International Union Local 246.

Instead of offering presumptive pensions only to city employees who could prove they worked at least 40 hours at Ground Zero, the morgue, Fresh Kills or in areas south of Canal St., it would create an exception for Auto Mechanics who, according to Local 246 President Joe Colangelo, worked in municipal garages around the boroughs.

"About 1,000 of my members will be affected by this amendment if the Governor signs it into law," he said. "I had members who were working on blown-out city rigs for all sorts of agencies at the approved sites, but also many who were working at garage facilities on 26th St. and West End Ave. in Manhattan, and in Brooklyn. So while some members can apply for benefits, others have been locked out, even though they meet all the other criteria."

The amendment that would grant Local 246 Auto Mechanics eligibility for presumptive pensions was introduced to the Assembly June 16 and passed that afternoon.

Zipped Through

It went before the Senate June 22, and was passed shortly after midnight June 23 by a vote of 127 to 0.

"In my 15 years of being a lobbyist, I don't think I've ever seen a bill introduced to the Assembly on a Friday, passed to the Senate on a Monday, and voted through again on Friday," said Robert Ungar, who represents Local 246's interests in Albany. "I give big kudos to [Assembly Leader Sheldon] Silver and [Senate Majority Leader Joseph L.] Bruno. They moved with amazing speed."

Mr. Colangelo said he's pinning his hopes now on Governor Pataki. "I'm just praying he does the right thing by signing the bill," he said.