A Long Island union leader is facing criticism for complaining that his workers did not receive sufficient overtime pay for their work during the funeral of slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller.
Ron Gurrieri, President of Civil Service Employees Association 830, filed a grievance against Nassau County on behalf of the Department of Public Works employees he represents, stating that they were not properly paid for their work in handling road closures in Massapequa for Diller’s funeral on March 30.
“Relief requested for all affected members to receive all benefits lost, monies, OT, etc,” Gurrieri stated in the April 8 grievance.
“The County of Nassau, specifically DPW, violates the CBA [collective bargaining agreement] when they contracted out road closures duties on Merrick Road, which is a county road, for the funeral of NYC Police Officer Jonathan Diller,” read the grievance.
The complaint asserted that CSEA members are fully capable of handling road closures and have done so in the past.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman criticized Gurrieri for using the funeral of a heroic police officer to seek more overtime pay at the taxpayers’ expense.
Blakeman’s office clarified that it was the Nassau County Police Department, not contracted workers, who assisted DWP employees in managing the road closure and traffic diversion.
“Not only is your assertion incorrect. I find the whole premise distasteful and disturbing,” Blakeman stated in a June 24 response to the CSEA president.
“I do not believe the hardworking members of your union and my employees would be so cynical and callous to want to profit with overtime at the expense of Police Officer Diller’s funeral and blessed memory,” Blakeman added.
On March 25, 31-year-old Diller encountered a career criminal in a parked car in Far Rockaway. Guy Rivera, 34, with 21 arrests on his record, allegedly pulled out a pistol and opened fire, fatally striking Diller in the stomach, just underneath his bulletproof vest.
The leader of the pro-police advocacy group Blue Lives Matter condemned Gurrieri’s complaint as insensitive and self-serving.
“This guy has to get over himself. We’re talking about a funeral for a hero police officer who was killed in the line of duty,” said Blue Lives Matter founder and president Joe Imperatrice, who is currently an NYPD detective bureau supervisor.
“Officer Diller left behind a 1-year-old who won’t know his father and a wife who will not see the family she envisioned. And this union is more concerned about dollar signs instead of supporting the family when they need it most?” he expressed his displeasure.
Imperatrice continued, “It’s disgusting and it takes you by surprise. I’ve never heard anyone do something like this when a hero was killed. This is not something you pick a fight over.”
He suggested that Gurrieri may think he’s pleasing some of his members, but not the public.
During a phone interview with The Post, Gurrieri initially claimed to be unaware of the unfair labor practice he filed.
After being informed that The Post had a copy of it, he stated, “I have no comment on a pending grievance.”
