Mineola Removes Signs Thanking Essential Workers; Union Critical

MINEOLA, NY — A union and village official are at odds over the removal of signs around Mineola that thanked essential workers for their efforts during the pandemic, according to a report. Signs were installed around the village, including at village hall, Wilson Park and the Mineola Memorial Public Library. Most have since been removed.

The United Public Service Employees Union, which represents many workers in Mineola, criticized the village's Superintendent of Public Works Tom Rini for the move, according to the Mineola American.

“In a tribute to the heroic essential personnel that have worked tirelessly through the pandemic, including village employees, nurses and doctors at our hospitals and nursing homes and our law enforcement and first responders, United Public Service Employees Union put up three lawn signs on public village property thanking them for their efforts,” the union said in a statement. “Thomas Rini’s actions are a disgrace, and by his actions he obviously couldn’t care less about these dedicated employees’ heroic efforts."

The union said it installed "thank you" signs in counties and municipalities elsewhere whose workers they represent. Out of the hundreds of signs they placed, Mineola was the only employer to remove them, the union said.

Rini told the newspaper the village saluted all frontline workers, health care workers and first responders who served the community during the pandemic. However, no one from the union notified the village of its actions, and county law dictates that the village and its workers "routinely remove similar signs placed on utility poles and lawn signs placed on village property and on the right of way throughout the year."

Patch has reached out to the Village and UPSEU for comment. The story will be updated when they respond.