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Linn's Key: Figure Out What Other Side Wants

By RICHARD STEIER
Posted 2/11/19

In 1985, early in his tenure as Mayor Ed Koch’s chief negotiator, after some acrimonious dealings with District Council 37 Executive Director Victor Gotbaum, Bob Linn reached his first major municipal-contract settlement.

Before the pact was actually signed, however, according to Mr. Linn, Mr. Gotbaum called and said he had to have an additional wage increase for clerical workers represented by his largest local. When Mr. Linn suggested that could be managed by taking the money from a fund created under the deal to address salary inequities, Mr. Gotbaum balked, insisting it had to be paid for with additional city funds.

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