SUNBURY - Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi had strong words for the Teamsters union and a local representative Tuesday, upset that a grievance filed over the recent layoff of an assistant district attorney (ADA) has not been withdrawn despite the person being rehired by the county in another position.
"They're not Teamsters, they're shysters," Clausi said in a follow-up phone interview after the commissioners' meeting.
The grievance was filed after John P. Muncer was laid off Jan. 25 by District Attorney Tony Rosini after the county salary board said his office would have to give up one of its five ADAs.
Muncer has since returned to county employment, hired by the commissioners March 1 to succeed the late James J. Rosini as assistant solicitor.
Clausi said Muncer requested the grievance, filed Feb. 2, be dropped when he was rehired, but the union has not followed through with his request.
Muncer was not at Tuesday's meeting because he is on vacation.
During the meeting, Clausi said the district attorney's office is functioning with four assistants, and then began his criticism of the union and Ty Sees, Teamsters Local 764 secretary-treasurer.
"We did not need the position and now they filed against us. It's going to cost us $10,000 (to be represented)," he said. "The union wants his job reinstated. They have no right to tell the taxpayers how to spend their money."
He said he has lost respect for Sees.
"It's a disgrace what he's doing. We have hardships in the county and he's trying to sue us," he said.
A phone number for Sees could not be obtained Tuesday. A message was left for him through Northumberland Borough, where he serves on council, but it was not returned Tuesday night.
Rosini said he had no comment about Clausi's comments.
"It's an issue between the commissioners and the union," he said later Tuesday.