VIEWPOINT: Albany should repeal Triborough Amendment of Taylor Law

New Yorkers for Growth has made repealing New York's Triborough Amendment its chief legislative priority for 2011.

The Triborough Amendment, which was enacted in 1982 as an amendment to New York's Taylor Law, prohibits a public employer -the taxpayers - from changing any provision in an expired labor contract until a new contract is signed. The group says this provision has unfairly added millions of dollars in extra costs to state, county, and local governments, the group says.

In other words, it's rigged: it guarantees built-in pay increases and benefits for unionized public employees in perpetuity if a new contract is not signed.  That removes any incentive for public service unions to negotiate, guaranteeing that any new contract be more generous than the last.

 "Repeal of the Triborough Amendment is an essential first step for fiscal reform in New York State," said New Yorkers for Growth spokesman, former Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld. "We have a rigged system in New York with the public service unions holding all the cards.  New Yorkers for Growth strongly urges the State Legislature and Governor Cuomo to repeal this ridiculous law."

 New Yorkers for Growth urges Governor Cuomo to take the leadership role in repealing the Triborough Amendment:

 "To his credit, Governor Cuomo has said he is willing to take on the public service unions to save this state and its local governments from fiscal insolvency," Ms. Feld continued. "But that cannot happen with the union-biased Triborough Amendment in place. We therefore urge Governor Cuomo to make clear his support for repeal."

 To learn more about New Yorkers for Growth, please visit www.newyorkersforgrowth.com.