Nassau workers begin taking buyout package

Roughly a dozen Nassau County workers so far have accepted a voluntary retirement package that will pay them $1,000 for every year of service with the county, with the number expected to grow in the coming days, union officials said.

Civil Service Employees Association members have until Thursday to notify Nassau's Office of Human Resources if they want to take the buyout. Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano can extend the deadline for an additional 90 days, but it's unclear whether he will.

The salaries and benefits of retiring workers will be used to offset the layoffs of about 300 CSEA employees by year's end. Mangano has mandated that the union provide $54 million in savings, either through layoffs or retirements. It's not yet known how much money the retiring CSEA workers will save the county.

County officials declined to comment, but CSEA president Jerry Laricchiuta said "there is a long line" of workers who are interested in the deal. "This is a big decision in their lives," Laricchiuta said. "It's a life-changing moment."

He said some county workers have calculated that they will receive more through extended unemployment than they would through the incentive package. CSEA employees who voluntarily retire will not be eligible to collect unemployment.

The separation program is open to all CSEA workers, except employees of Nassau Community College.

Layoffs will go forward Thursday. Some employees could get rehired, officials said, if the separation package is extended through next year.

The goal of the incentive package is to entice Tier 1 and Tier 2 workers -- who are paid higher salaries and cost the county more in pension contributions -- to retire early.

"Layoffs, the last resort in personnel reduction, are costly and inefficient," the county explained in its summary of the separation plan. "Unemployment benefits have been extended to 99 weeks, and under 'bump and retreat' provisions of the CSEA contract, layoffs will result in employees being placed in positions that do not utilize their particular expertise and without the input of department heads."

The separation package, the document said, "allows for an orderly transition of personnel over a course of months. Department heads will be able to allocate resources appropriately and with staff better matched to their position."

A similar plan offered by Mangano earlier this year paid employees $750 for each year of service. Those employees had up to six weeks to make a decision, and more than 50 left, saving the county more than $5.3 million.

In this round, retiring workers have less than two weeks to decide, as their salaries must be off the books by the new year.

Employees are expected to receive incentive payments within 60 days of their resignation.

Departing employees will also be paid for their outstanding sick and vacation days. In the past, CSEA members could cash out up to 90 vacation days, but the incentive program lifts that cap. Only 248 CSEA employees have more than 90 banked vacation days, county officials said. CSEA members can also cash out up to 200 banked sick days.

Employees can select to receive termination pay in a lump-sum payment within 90 business days or in three installments.

Employees who accept the separation plan must sign a waiver releasing the county and the union from all claims, charges, complaints and damages resulting from their employment, with the exception of those already pending, according to the agreement.

With Celeste Hadrick