Officials in Seneca Falls are accused of wasting taxpayer money by delaying union recognition

Seneca Falls City Councilman Frank Schmitter and Council Member Frank Sinicropi are under fire for delaying the recognition of a new union for city workers, leading to allegations of embezzlement of taxpayer funds. The delay has drawn the ire of staff and other board members who say the delay is both unnecessary and costly.

The workers, who are pushing to form a Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) union, argue that the city is wasting money on legal fees instead of moving forward with the unionization process. “The amount of money the city is spending on expensive lawyers is unnecessary,” said Shawn Van Gee, a heavy equipment operator with the highway department. “Our goal is to speed up this process and conserve city resources while we organize to build a well-equipped workforce that will meet the needs of our community.”

The dispute centers on a 3-2 decision by the board in August to recognize the union. Despite the majority decision, Schmitter and Sinicropi have not implemented the decision, prompting workers to file a formal petition for union recognition with the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). A PERB conference is scheduled for mid-October to begin the longer and more costly process of union recognition, even though an overwhelming majority of workers have already signed authorization cards.

“It's disappointing that two of our city council members are delaying this democratic process,” said Peter Porcelli, a zoning and building inspection official. “The workers want this, and the majority of the council has already voted for it. Now we have to fight through the lengthy PERB process to get our new CSEA union certified.”

The delays have raised concerns about the financial burden on taxpayers. “This money should be invested in our community,” said Aaron Passalacqua, building maintenance supervisor in the Buildings and Grounds Department. “Instead, it is being used to prevent recognition of our union. Councilman Schmitter and Councilman Sinicropi are needlessly spending taxpayer money and lining the pockets of high-paid lawyers instead of doing what is best for our city.”

CSEA is one of the largest unions in New York, representing approximately 250,000 state, county, and municipal employees. Founded in 1910, the union has a long history of advocating for workers' rights across the state and is a member of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

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