Unions in Nassau county agreed to $43 million in concessions yesterday as a means of avoiding layoffs. The county is grappling with a $130 million budget deficit this year, and county executives had proposed layoffs or an across the board pay cut for public employees in order to reign in labor costs. Instead, four unions agreed to defer some wages and encourage voluntary retirement; in fact, the deal depends on at least 300 employees agreeing to retire early. Without the early retirements, the county may enact unpaid furloughs instead. Union officials commented that a few more issues need to be negotiated before the deal is submitted for membership approval.
See "Nassau, unions reach tentative deal to avoid layoffs", William Murphy and Sid Cassese, Newsday, March 9, 2009