City's Top Negotiator Linn Stepping Down

Robert W. Linn, whose return as the city’s Labor Commissioner after a 24-year absence was marked by his remarkably swift, relatively painless resolution of a contract logjam created by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s refusal to negotiate with municipal unions during his final term in office, Jan. 14 filed for retirement from city government.

Mr. Linn, who is 70, will remain in his job for another few weeks. In addition to trying to negotiate contract terms with at least one uniformed union—none of which has reached a deal in the current round of bargaining—he is expected to continue to serve as the de Blasio administration’s representative on an arbitration panel scheduled to decide on a wage agreement for the Police Benevolent Association that is more than 17 months overdue.