Mayor Spano Declares Major Victory as New York State's Public Employee Relations Board Declares Impasse between City of Yonkers and Fire Union Local 628 - PART TWO

YONKERS, NY -- February 6, 2013 -- "Mike Spano’s pronouncement that PERB’s declaration of impasse was “a major victory” for the City is very telling as to what Mike Spano’s intentions have been all along in his dealings with the Yonkers Firefighters, IAFF Local 628" said Barry McGoey, President of IAFF Local 628 Yonkers Firefighters (pictured right).

McGoey continued, “By declaring ‘victory’ Mike Spano has finally come clean and admitted that he never intended to bargain in good faith in an attempt to try to reach an amicable agreement with the Yonkers Firefighters.  Mike Spano’s ultimate goal has now been revealed to have been designed to bring about an impasse by refusing to be reasonable or realistic in his dealings with the Yonkers Firefighters.”

“Local 628 has acted in good faith and has put forth significant proposals which would have saved the City millions of dollars over the next several years.  We now know that Mike Spano never wanted to resolve the contractual disputes between the Yonkers Firefighters and the City – he only wanted to ensure that we could never come to an agreement and thus he could delegate his authority as Mayor to unelected non-Yonkers officials.”

“Instead of declaring victory, Mike Spano would better serve the citizens of Yonkers by rolling up his sleeves and sitting down with Local 628 and resolve the Yonkers Firefighter’s contract which has been expired for almost 4 years.  Now is not the time to pass the buck.  Mike Spano was elected Mayor of Yonkers.  It’s time for Mike Spano to be the Mayor and to resolve this dispute in Yonkers, by Yonkers people, for the people of Yonkers.”

SOURCE:  I.A.F.F. Local 628 Yonkers Firefighters 

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Comments

[Happy New Year]

Him and his minnions could not match wits with you Mr. McGoey. He had to hide in the closet until some outsider and his state pals could hood wink the workers of Yonkers.

[delaney134]

Spano will do his best to past responsibility on to anyone but himself because he's not a man...remember Mario Diaz..look at him..he hires Sue Gerry to speak on his behalf.
Now he'll look to puppet master Cuomo to help him with influence over PERP.
Spano will never be trusted!

[Wondering]

So what is the next step?

[YFD]

PERB has settled other labor groups fairly....let's just see!

[LIONS AND TIGERS AND MAYORS, OH MY]

ugh..how does he keep declaring victory in this situation, when there is virtually a dead heat in every decision????? It's like six of one, half a dozen of the other. But, it's all in the spin.

[All hail the village idiot]

Wait, if I recall didn't Mike Spano say the same thing about the EMS arbitration ....“Today’s Court action is a victory for the people of Yonkers, since the City will be able to submit costly and outdated contract provisions to an impartial arbitrator,” so if that was a victory, why did you spend thousands of dollars on legal fees and an arbitrator, to just give up?

[Lou]

Mcgooy should step aside and have folkerts lead the YFD

[If teachers...]

I'll tell ya'll what's reasonable, how about working a 5 day 40 hour week, like the rest of the planet.
A thorough investigation into work practices needs to be done on every level of government, especially in Yonkers.

If teachers are to be evaluated, and they should, so should every public employee just as in the real world. There should be no automatic raises unless they are deserved and on a person by person basis. This would reward those who deserve it and make those who are not good workers held accountable for their actions

It's time

[Thanks Barry]

Keep up thé great job Barry...

[spano ONAPS]

mike spano and his press team really have a problem with the truth and they avoid it like the plague

i wouldn't be shocked to see mike spano come out with another press release saying that nick spano has been on an extended sabbatical or retreat, reflecting on his past and planning for his future

thank god the firefighters are kicking his ass and showing the people just what a loser mike spano really is

[Gasboy]

Firefighters are cheating Yonkers taxpayers

[threesoidesto truth]

Impass, how is this a victory. Does it not mean no deal can be reached?
When it goes to an arbitrator wiil he not heed the raises given to teachers and administrators when dealing with the fire brigades?
Will he not heed the raise steps given to teachers for nearly a year and a half to teachers while other unions were idle?
Where is the victory
Please , what is he talking about?
Does the mayor know what impass is?

[Yonkers resident]

Are you serious with this u have to be kidding first the rest of the world isn't runing into burning buildings that's number one and number two if ur a teacher u got some guys saying that when u get 2-3 paid months off every year the stupidity amazes me use common sense ppl seriously it's a real joke wa some of u say

[stuck in Pottersville]

Just remember this is not an even playing field. Lots of favors owed to the jailed one and Mike the Magnificent. They will be looking to corrupt the process, like they have corrupted everything else. Before you proceed, assume that all sorts of politicians and staff will have their arms twisted to get ahead of 628.
Remember! Never trust a Spano!!!

[Merle]

How do you figure? Try to be a responsible blogger, ya mudslinging loser

[anon]

This is Spano's way of bringing in the Control Board without actually doing so. Arbitration can make major changes to contracts, which is exactly what Spano wants.

Why the unions fell for his bull in the last election is beyond me. It was so obvious that they were being used as patsies to get him elected.

[QUE]

And what Yonkers fire fighters work 2 days a week. Pull the other one. Your not running into burning buildings every day because your not at work every day, unless padding the OT.

I agree with if teachers, there needs to be continual assesment in every walk of like, especially in all of the public service where unfortunately there are too many coasting and haven't been productive in years.
Perhaps old SpaNO could kick start annual review for public servants? It could be a model fo rte nation to follow. LOLOLOLOLOL

[Yonkersresident]

What does it matter if u work ur 40 hrs in 3 days ur 5 is ur response gonna be then u need less guys to man the positions how do u figure when it's a 24hr operaton of fire fighters worked a 8hr day there would need to be 3 shifts to cover a 24hr period and now what happens if there is a fire at the end of shit do try stop fighting it and change shifts to save overtime no they keep fighting and now that same crew Isn't gonna be able to work there next shift after that so they have to be replaced on over time so now wa do u have a lists of part time guys that come in to fill that shift no u don't things are structured a certin way for a reason a firefighter and a teacher have to totally different jobs in no world can u compare the too the fact that u are even trying to say so makes me doubt ur intelligence or makes me feel like u have a agenda

[yfdripoff]

There is no reason fire fighters should not work 8 hour shifts. Why should we pay you as you sleep?

You still need the same number of employees to cover shifts whether they work 8 hours or allowed to work 24 hours. The only benefit is to the employee who is being paid to sleep and to show up for work one day a week.

[What a Dick]

You are a Dick! Folkerts is a Dick! Spano is a Dick! You all may be one in the same.

[Another Dick]

Look, another Dick posts as if he knows what the fuck he is writing about!

Go shine Spano's helmet head....

[El Cocqui]

OH YOU ARE RIGHT I HAVE AN AGENDA AND IT'S TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYER FROM THE CONSTANT ABUSE IN YONKERS, WHO IS SICK OF ALL THE PLAYERS AND THE BULLSHIT.

ALL GOVERNMENT WORKERS NEED TO BE ASSESSED EVERY YEAR, AND I MEAN ALL, NO EXCUSES.

[Union and Sad]

Firefighters have to realize that Yonkers Taxpayers can't afford them any longer, if they are not happy , they should find another career. They initial contract under John Spencer was a political payoff for their support. All city unions should are overpaid , the overtime and perks are criminal.

[when is election day]

I don’t think there is anyone who would disagree that there are savings to be had in any of the four major services to the city. It stands to reason that if reasoned people got together, they could come up with a collective solution that would encompass the unions AND the administration.
If all branches took a REASONED and REASONABLE approach to the problem, we might be able to work toward a solution that doesn’t have the taxpayer screwed again and the COY may be able to get some financial relief.
The thing that makes such a deal improbable is that COY has NO leadership. Mike the Magnificent and his merry band of corruptors have poisoned the well. While they use city hall as their personal piggy bank and brothel, they expect their least favorite union to act responsibly and bear the entire burden of decades of financial abuse.
Hey MTM how about showing some real leadership and come up with a proposal to cut wasted millions you have in pointless job titles and administrative waste and then call on the unions to make their cuts as well. Maybe with a collective effort; where certain unions don’t feel like they are being punished and others feel like they are the blessed one; everyone puts their shoulder to our problem we can truly get some relief and; dare we hope??? Some progress.
What am I saying…. I guess it’s easier playing in the mud with your brothers and as everyone in the city knows; NTAS

[Fact checker]

Get your facts straight. Yfd did not back spencer. I repeat did not back spencer in his first election and negotiated a contract w him 1 yr after he got into office...so how may I ask do u consider this to be favoritism.