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To the editor:
The Chief has reported on the current stalemate at the Municipal Labor Committee to select a successor to Harry Nespoli as chair (“Municipal Labor Committee, in between leaders, takes up city health plan,” The Chief, Sept. 12).
It’s been reported that neither of the two leading candidates — District Council 37’s Executive Director Henry Garrido, nor Teamster Local 237’s President Gregory Floyd — received the required two-thirds vote in weighted balloting.
But truth be told, either would be serving in violation of MLC by laws.
Article 5, Section 5 of their Rules states that “there shall be a Chair, Co-Chair, Executive Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, one of whom shall be a delegate of the Citywide Bargaining Representative and one of whom shall be a delegate of members representing the uniformed forces in the police, fire, sanitation or correction departments.” Of these five positions, Nespoli was the sole uniformed services member (Sanitation). Absent other personnel changes, Garrido and Floyd should be considered ineligible.
The MLC already negotiates contracts despite not holding a bargaining certificate. So it is not surprising that it flouts its rules when it comes to wielding power. Such unaccountability cries out for reform.
Harry Weiner
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