As a follow-up to my “Lawlessness and Lies” letter published in last week’s online edition of The Southampton Press, I encourage you to read the September 4 article in the New York Post titled, “Southampton Mayor Ripped for Gutting Perks for Town (i.e., Village) Workers: Straw That Broke the Camel’s Back.”
In that article, a representative for the mayor claimed, “the village has not broken the Taylor Law.”
However, the Taylor Law, or the Public Employees’ Fair Employment Act, guarantees public employees the right to organize, unionize, and engage in collective bargaining without fear of retaliation.
The village has reportedly refused to allow certain employees to join the union, unjustly docked their pay, and chipped away at their benefits, including attempts to eliminate sick days. Employees are even being silenced, with instructions not to speak at meetings. These actions are not just unethical; they are illegal and have a chilling effect on the morale of our public workers.
The article further highlighted Mayor Bill Manger’s “let them eat cake” attitude with the quote: “You have a mayor who is living in a multimillion-dollar beachfront home, yet he’s taking away coffee and vacation days from employees.”
Additionally, multiple improper practice charges have been filed against the village, confirming these violations and demonstrating a blatant disregard for those who serve our community. I urge The Southampton Press to provide more coverage on these improper practice charges to ensure our community stays informed.
Regardless of anyone’s stance on unions, compliance with the Taylor Law is not optional — it is a legal requirement in New York State.
Stay tuned for “Lawlessness and Lies Part III.”
David Rung
Southampton Village
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