PORT AUTHORITY MOVES TO CURB UNION POWERS

Shawn Boburg, Staff Writer;

In a little noticed move, the Port Authority board has unanimously decided to strip unions of the right to negotiate health care benefits, putting it at the center of a debate that has ignited fierce protests in Wisconsin and Ohio. Public Employees The decision by the bi-state agency has drawn the attention of regional and national labor leaders, who are working behind the scenes to get the measure reversed. The issue has the potential to publicly highlight differences between Governor Christie and New York's Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who have come down on different sides of the national debate on collective bargaining and have veto power over the agency's decisions. Their response carries potentially lasting implications for the two rising stars from opposing parties who have grander aspirations, experts say, as well as for the Port Authority's approximately 4,600 union employees. READ MORE: CLICK HERE! Triborough Amendment Since public workers are prohibited from striking, Triborough levels the field in negotiations, preventing employers from unilaterally changing terms and conditions of employment if a contract has expired.  Triborough merely continues the terms of an expired contract while the parties negotiate a new one. It does not give workers raises.  Without Triborough employers could wait until a contract expires and then simply impose new terms.  Read More On This Issue: Nurses, Probation Officers, Public Safety and all Public Employees are under attack.... Why we defend Triborough  -  READ MORE CLICK HERE