Workers Rally Against Nassau County Layoffs; Mangano Rips Union Leaders
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Several thousand unionized Nassau County workers rallied outside the County Executive's office Monday in Mineola to protest his proposal to layoff hundreds of employees to balance the budget.
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They came with a message, but Ed Mangano's message was equally as stinging.
"We will remember November, this November, next November, and the November after that!" chanted Danny Donohue, president of the statewide Civil Service Employees Association, over a loudspeaker.
"We get laid off, people are going to start leaving Nassau County or are going to migrate to another area," he said.
Donohue called the layoffs un-American, unfair, and unconstitutional. The crowd of middle class employees cheered him on.
In a statement from Mangano's office, the Nassau County Exec said: "Rather than waste members dues on t-shirts and juvenile signs, union leaders would serve their members responsibly by getting their butts to the negotiation table. "
The scathing statement continued on saying "It is a sad day in America when union bosses are arrogant enough to claim that asking for concessions is Anti-American. Tell that to the veterans of World War II who are struggling to pay their property taxes. Tell that to the soldiers of Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan who struggle to live in Nassau County. How dare Nassau's union bosses insult anyone who is fighting for lower taxes!"
Mangano's office said that "the fact remains if union bosses fail to negotiate more of their members will lose their jobs or will be furloughed."
Nassau County faces a $310 million budget gap.
What do you think Nassau County should do to balance its budget? What do you think of Mangano's response? Sound off in the comments section below.
