Dear Editor:
The following is a letter addressed to Mayor Roque:
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Charles N. Hall, Jr. and I am the president of Local 108, RWDSU, UFCW who is a certified bargaining representative of the West New York Crossing Guards.
I am writing to bring to your attention the status of negotiations between the Town of West New York and Local 108 on behalf of the crossing guards. I am aware of the fact that you are the newly elected mayor and that you are probably still settling into your office. However, I wanted to make sure that you are keenly aware of the crossing guard negotiations and the personal struggles that many of them face.
• The crossing guard contract expired in June, 2010.
• The union negotiated with the prior administration on numerous occasions and had begun to make some progress.
• Since you were elected, the union has met with the town’s Business Administrator, Joe McConnell, on two occasions, an in-house legal representative once and thereafter twice with the town’s outside counsel, David Corrigan.
• None of the above meetings resulted in any progress.
• The final two (2) meetings with Mr. Corrigan were on Aug. 17 and Oct. 13. Mr. Corrigan advised me in August that perhaps I should meet with him in September because he was dealing with the police, firefighters and the CWA. He advised me that the town was in a multi-million dollar deficit. Mr. Corrigan advised me in October that perhaps I should meet with him in November because he was again dealing with the police, firefighters and the CWA.
I have explained to the following individuals working in your administration – Joe McConnell, Julio Morejon, David Corrigan and another attorney working directly for you – that the crossing guards were part-time employees. I further explained that the crossing guards have no medical benefits and limited paid time off.
The union certainly recognizes and understands the town’s financial difficulties. However, the crossing guards depend on modest increases they receive to live their day to day lives.
I would suspect that a new agreement for the crossing guards would have a negligible effect on the town’s financial status.
I implore you to direct your agents to sit down and negotiate a fair settlement with the West New York crossing guards.
Very truly yours,
Charles N. Hall, Jr.