Letters

As the former mayor of Southampton Village, I was both disappointed and saddened to witness some of our village’s hardest-working employees rallying at Village Hall last Thursday. These civil servants, who tirelessly maintain our roads, parks, beaches, and perform important clerical work, felt compelled to stand up for themselves in the face of uncalled for situations created under the current administration.

A truck parked in front of Village Hall bore the phrase “Show Some Respect.” Unfortunately, that message was necessary. The Civil Service Employees Association, representing our largest union, has been trying to finalize a contract that was negotiated 18 months ago. This contract is remarkably favorable to the village and its taxpayers, reducing the pay increase rate from 3 percent to 2.5 percent and requiring employees to contribute more to their health benefits. The fact that the CSEA agreed to these terms during a time of decades-high inflation shows their good faith in the negotiation process.

However, the refusal of Bill Manger to finalize this contract, despite its clear benefits, indicates a concerning lack of good faith on his part. This impasse isn’t just about the contract — it’s about the well-being and respect of our village employees.

The situation escalated when Manger had his highly paid patronage superintendent remove coffee, plates and utensils from the lunchroom, all while refusing to finalize the contract. This trivial but symbolic action was the final straw.

These village employees are salt-of-the-earth people. They keep our village beautiful, our beaches clean, our leaves picked up and our snow removed. During the rally, CSEA members rightly stated, “We are not your enemies. We are your employees.” Their message couldn’t be clearer.

What makes this situation even more disappointing is that while Bill Manger is battling his own employees over coffee and plates (what he called “cost-cutting measures”), and potentially threatening their previously earned sick days and deferred compensation, he is simultaneously awarding $50,000 raises to his patronage employees. He recently passed legislation to reduce the role of his campaign worker turned village administrator — while allowing him to collect a $120,000 pension on top of his $215,000 annual salary, for a total compensation of $315,000.

This favoritism stands in stark contrast to the disrespect shown to the civil servants who handle the day-to-day work of our village.

It’s time for the village to focus on our most pressing issues, such as improving traffic, protecting the environment, and revitalizing our downtown, rather than being distracted by petty differences.

Jesse Warren

Southampton Village