CSEA waits for NIFA to sign off on deal

The president of the Civil Service Employees Association says the framework for a deal has been reached with Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano that could potentially avert hundreds of layoffs by the end of the year.

The agreement is contingent on the approval of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, a state monitoring board with control of the county's finances, said CSEA president Jerry Laricchiuta.

"If it was just the county executive and the union, we would have a deal already," Laricchiuta said.

"We are very optimistic about a deal," said Mangano spokesman Brian Nevin, declining to elaborate.

Mangano has asked the CSEA, the county's largest labor union, to come up with $54 million in concessions or face the layoffs of more than 300 members by Dec. 29.

The proposed agreement would pay employees $1,000 per year of service if they voluntarily retire by the end of the year, Laricchiuta said.

Mangano has submitted a bill asking the legislature to approve $54 million in separation payments for CSEA members. Democrats have threatened to block the borrowing until they receive a commitment for an independent, nonpartisan redistricting process.

It is unclear how many employees would be willing to retire with less than two weeks' notice during the holiday season. The union has asked for the separation package to be extended for 90 days.

In exchange, the union wants NIFA to lift its pay freeze on county employees starting in 2013. Mangano and NIFA have previously called for the freeze, which has been in place through 2011, to be extended through the end of the union contracts in 2015.

NIFA executive director Evan Cohen declined to comment. NIFA board member George Marlin said he's not been presented with an agreement. County sources said a formal agreement with the union has yet to be inked, although a deal could be signed as early as Monday evening.

The legislature is scheduled to vote Monday on a bill authorizing 435 layoffs, 217 demotions and elimination of funding for 183 vacant jobs. If a deal is reached after the vote, Mangano can rescind the dismissals and demotions.