Murphy, Sweeney Debate at Lindenhurst Legislative Breakfast

The Triborough Amendment and the way it affects a school district's ability to negotiate with its employee bargaining units was a hot topic at the .

Held at the auditorium this past , more than 300 people turned out at the despite the that morning.

They listened to what their local state and county had to say about the new and how they were going to support the .

They also asked of their legislators - including New York State Assemblyman , State Senator , State Senator , State Assemblyman and Suffolk County Legislator .

Lindy , parents, students, civic leaders, administrators and Board of Education members took turns asking a variety of questions, and when BOE President Ed Murphy, Jr. began asking about the Triborough Amendment, it sparked a short, but spirited debate between him and Assemblyman Sweeney.

It was over the amendment - which is part of New York state's Taylor Law - and its effect on current and future contract negotiations between schools and various unions, plus .

It mandates that even when a contract is up for unionized employees, school  districts/boards can't alter the terms and conditions of employment, and in return, employees can't go on strike.

This is particularly key in Lindenhurst, where the district and BOE are currently in continued with five of the six employee bargaining units: TAL (), aides, clericals, administrative and nurses (and the custodians’ contract is up in June 2012).

"What you're saying is, 'Save us from ourselves,'" Sweeney told Murphy. "[You're saying the union] negotiated a contract we don't like, and we don't have to live with it one minute longer than when it expires...to have the state legislature come in and change a contract because one party doesn't like it, I don't think that's appropriate."

"When you have a bargaining unit with no contract that gets their [pension] paid for at 12 percent, continues to get their health paid for, and continues to get three percent [step pay increases], when we have a two-percent cap and a loss in aid, what can we possibly offer [them] other than zeroes?" Murphy countered.

The two exchanged thoughts until , president of the Lindenhurst Council of PTAs - the event's sponsor - cut them off and steered the back to the Q-and-A format.

A little later BOE Member picked up the conversation in the open mic portion of the event, explaining the BOE's position a little further.

"Years ago employers had the unfair advantage, and we're not opposed to evening the playing field, and we're not opposed to living up to contracts that we negotiate," Doran said.

"But the point we are at now is that when a contract expires it seems that there's no incentive to negotiate and the advatnage has shifted. All we are asking is that you look at the to see if there's any assistance to shifting it back to the middle," he continued.

"I'm certainly open to have a discussion with you about it," Sweeney answered. "We could certainly look at the legislation, but I don't think we want to contravene what what was created by a court decision."

In answer to a later question from the audience about his stance on the amendment, Senator Johnson seemed to have a differing view.

"It's a law of the state, but if it were to be eliminated or changed, then it would a lot easier for local districts to negotiate," he said.

Reaction
After the event Murphy and Sweeney spoke with Lindenhurst Patch about the amendment and the exchange.

While Murhpy told Patch that the BOE continues to "faithfully negotiate" with its bargaining units, the amendment is something that does impair its ability to reach an agreement since there's not much the BOE could offer other than zeros - particularly when it comes to TAL.

And like last year, when the TAL contract was set to expire in June, it was a big issue because of a public between Murphy and TAL President Rose Russo over taking a true zero, or pay freeze with no steps or lanes, during one budget workshop.

It caused 300 teachers to walk out in protest over the airing of what they thought were private negotiations. It also left that linger even now in the community as Lindy heads into another budget season.

In contrast the administrators and aides have no step increases, and the nurses', clericals' and custodians' step increases are "incremental," said Murphy.

Meanwhile Sweeney told Patch that he offered the BOE about what's going on, but he maintained his position about the amendment itself.

"I'm open to ideas, but it's a court decision that shouldn't be contravened," he said.

Rick Karas contributed to this story.

Editor's Note: Stay "tuned" to Lindenhurst Patch this week for more coverage and information about the Q-and-A session at the Sixth Annual Legislative Breakfast on , and reaction to the event.

Share your thoughts in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter, or e-mail barbara.loehr@patch.com with your own opinion piece about the .