After three years without a contract, Suffolk's correction officers union finally began binding arbitration hearings today toward a new pact.
The hearings are expected to last five or six days over the next three weeks and are scheduled to end by Oct.31. The 820-member union has been without a contract since 2004 and the arbitrator David Stein will rule on contract terms for the years 2004 and 2005. Union officialssay they hope for an arbitration ruling by year's end.
Rick Brand