Laid-off Nassau workers get jobless tips

Dozens of recently laid-off Nassau County workers were at their union headquarters in Mineola the past two days learning about the essentials of being jobless: unemployment benefits, job hunting, and how to continue health insurance.

Most interviewed were angry.

Diane Cola, who spent 4 1/2 years as an appraiser in the Small Claims Assessment Review office, was one of 128 county workers who lost jobs last Thursday in Nassau's effort to balance its budget for the year.

"I first heard rumors about this back in February at a hearing on one of the claims cases," said Cola, 53, of Carle Place. "Then, about three weeks ago, a list of possible layoffs was circulating with job titles and salaries. But I did not get an official notice about myself until the day they fired me."

Cola said she would look for a job in real estate, "but I'm pretty sure it won't be easy."

Hugo Leon, 52, of Valley Stream, who spent five years as a bilingual clerk with the county's Assessment Review Commission, said he has no idea what he will do. As a clerk, he answered questions and helped taxpayers file applications for reduced property assessments. "I hope I can find another job to help people, but I just don't know," he said.

Representatives of the state Department of Labor's Unemployment Insurance Division were at the sessions, as were those from an employee assistance program, the state CSEA Work Institute and two insurance companies.

Civil Service Employee Association Local 830 spokesman Ryan Mulholland said the union is preparing grievances, most accusing the county of violating the CSEA contract by hiring outside sources to do employees' jobs. Cola said the county had been outsourcing much of her work "since back in February."