Suffolk County 9-1-1 operators plead their case before the Public Safety Committee of the Suffolk County Legislature on June 2, during the public portion.
The 9-1-1 operators expressed their immense frustration over the lack of resources, lack of union support, and now a schedule restructuring that threatens their overtime pay. They went so far as to write a detailed letter to the legislators outlining their frustrations.
Specifically, one 9-1-1 operator there that spoke was troubled at how the administration of Steve Bellone (D-Babylon) altered the pay week for operators. Previously, the work week for each squadron started on the first day that that squadron worked. However, now the work week begins on Monday, regardless of if they are slated to work Monday. In effect, changing the start date has thrown the operators into confusion over how base pay and overtime pay, which they are mandated to work, will be calculated. Now operators fear that they will be required to work more than the already intense work week they have to earn the same compensation.
Further adding confusion to the ordeal is the alleged lack of communication between the operators and their union and between operators and the Bellone Administration.
The difficulties 9-1-1 operators outlined could have drastic implications in Suffolk County and, by some accounts, already are. Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) remarked that he has already experienced prolonged wait times when dialing 9-1-1. The speaker also mentioned that the union covering their collective bargaining agreement with the county has not been supportive of their concerns outside of a lack of communication. Evidently, this is not the first time 9-1-1 operators voiced their concern, as previously, at the May 12 meeting of the Public Safety Committee, Executive Vice President for Suffolk AME Thomas Moran spoke and said, “last meeting (underline added) of your committee some facts were brought up. AME does not feel that they really represent some of the issues going on. President Leveler is aware of those issues, and he is working with the administration to get resolve for this unique community we have at the 9-1-1 call centers.”
With this issue obviously predating the meeting Moran attended, Suffolk County residents are right to worry about the state of the county’s 9-1- 1 operators and public safety. With morale low in Suffolk’s call center and retention rates even worse, residents would be right to expect decreased service quality. Even linguistically, retaining Spanish speakers has proven to be difficult, putting Suffolk’s growing Latino community at heightened risk.
The trip to the legislature, as cathartic as it may have been for those speaking, amounts to little in terms of progress. All negotiations take place between the union and the executive, meaning that legislative support amounts to little in the scheme of negotiations.
