A representative of Auburn’s municipal workers urged the City Council this week to give greater consideration to staffing protections across city departments, saying employees are being stretched as positions disappear.
Speaking during public comment, Michael LaCastro, who identified himself as vice president of CSEA’s city bargaining unit, questioned differences between protections in the firefighters’ contract and those available to other municipal employees.
LaCastro said the firefighters’ agreement includes a staffing mandate and protections against layoffs tied to the city’s financial difficulties. He asked officials to consider the needs of workers responsible for water service, public works, administration and other daily operations.
His comments did not challenge whether firefighters deserve those protections, he said.
“My concern is the difference in treatment between bargaining units within our own city government,” LaCastro said.
He described departments operating with fewer employees while retaining the same responsibilities. That leaves less flexibility to address emergencies, unexpected problems and routine work, he said.
“Our infrastructure still needs to be maintained, and our residents still depend on us,” LaCastro said.
He urged officials to consider the long-term effects of staffing reductions as they negotiate contracts and make financial decisions.
Different departments do not need identical agreements, he said, but their staffing needs deserve serious consideration before service capacity reaches a breaking point.
“Just because employees have managed to do more with less doesn’t mean they can continue to do so indefinitely,” LaCastro said.
He argued that protecting public safety and maintaining other municipal services are shared responsibilities, pointing to the water systems and infrastructure residents rely on each day.
“We shouldn’t have to choose between public safety and public services,” he said.
LaCastro did not identify specific positions lost or provide a department-by-department staffing breakdown during his remarks. His appeal brought the broader municipal workforce into the council’s public discussion, but it did not result in a staffing or contract vote at the meeting.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
