Municipal leaders hope the next seven weeks of legislative action will bring significant changes to the 38-year-old binding arbitration system for police and firefighter contracts.
The binding arbitration law has been renewed every few years by lawmakers and governors, but with the latest iteration sunsetting in June, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has refused to simply sign an extension.
“I said no,” Cuomo said Wednesday, referring to thinking by lawmakers — many of whom are closely allied with police and firefighter unions — that the law would be extended as is.
One potential change, Cuomo said, would let a newly formed restructuring panel, which the governor has proposed to help distressed municipalities, serve as a contract arbitrator for the unions.
Under the existing system, if a municipality hits an impasse in labor talks with its police or fire unions, a three-member independent arbitration panel (with one member chosen by the union, one by the municipality and one approved by both) can impose a contract. Mayors and other municipal leaders have long complained that the imposed terms tend to favor police and firefighter unions. The contracts could force cuts elsewhere or cause taxes to go up…..
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