Nassau legislators OK contracts for correction officers, bus services

Nassau legislators on Monday unanimously approved a $67 million collective bargaining agreement with the Sheriff's Correction Officers Benevolent Association, the last of the county's five major public unions to settle contracts following years of negotiations.

Also Monday, legislators renewed a multiyear contract with the Nassau Inter-County Express, or NICE Bus, a subsidiary of Illinois-based Transdev North America, to maintain and operate the county's bus system.

The COBA contract runs from July 2020 to July 2025 with 2% raises in the first two years, 2.5% in the next two years and 3% in the final two years.

More than 400 active employees would begin contributing 2.5% of their base salary to the health plan beginning Nov. 1; a new salary chart will take effect for new employees; the number of hours in which an officer may earn overtime pay will be capped; and a stipend for some investigative units is included in the deal. 

The union represents working and retired correction officers, a majority of whom staff the county jail in East Meadow. Members earlier this month ratified the deal in a 564-125 vote. It needs approval from the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, a state control board that oversees the county's finances.

"It's been a long road. Six years without a contract. I've gone down this road before but it's nice to get it done," COBA President Brian Sullivan said after the 19-0 vote by the full legislature.  

In August 2022, COBA members voted down a deal the union's leadership struck with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. 

Blakeman, a Republican who took office in January 2022, has also settled agreements with the Police Benevolent Association, Nassau's largest law enforcement union, and the Civil Service Employees Association, the county's largest public employee union. 

Former County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat, settled contracts with The Detectives' Association Inc. and the Superior Officers Association. PBA members in December 2020 voted down the first agreement between its former leadership and the Curran administration.

The five contracts cover 6,631 county employees. 

Legislators voted unanimously to renew the county's bus contract with NICE. 

Nassau has been contracting with NICE since 2010, and its latest contract expires at the end of this year. Two companies submitted bids in response to the county's request for proposals in January, Department of Public Works Commissioner Kenneth Arnold told legislators. 

The cost of renewal with NICE is $169 million for 2024 and rises 3% annually. The entire length of the agreement totals $1.3 billion over seven years, officials confirmed in response to questions from Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) during an hourlong hearing before the vote. 

Arnold said NICE bus service has received "good and satisfactory reviews over the years." He said the company's on-time performance is in the 90th percentile and its rate of accidents is 45% percent less than competitors such as the MTA. He said ridership is recovering from a decline during the pandemic. 

Legis. Carrié Solages (D-Lawrence) requested more data about on-time performance of buses that service the residents of his district, particularly those that rely on it to get back to Nassau from the LIRR Jamaica Station.

"My district borders New York City and many of my constituents are dependent upon public transportation," Solages said. 

NICE CEO Jack Khzouz said the bus company has 2,500 bus stops across the county and an on-time performance of 90%.

"September is always our most challenging month because we have back-to-school, and on-time performance dips down to about 87 or 88 percent," Khzouz said.

"Understanding that we have Nassau County traffic and Queens and Flushing traffic, and 2,500 stops to make, and relatively full buses — and sometimes that's a challenge — but we take the data and the feedback from the drivers and adjust the schedule every quarter," Khzouz said. 

The COBA agreement and the NICE contract renewal are expected to gain the approval of NIFA.

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.