(06/22/06) EAST MEADOW ? The Nassau County Sheriff?s Union has fired the latest salvo in a contract battle with Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.

According to the union, Suozzi ordered the maximum-security wing of the East Meadow jail closed after union representatives openly criticized the executive. Officers say 60 violent criminals have now been crammed into the jail?s general population. As a result, union officials say working conditions have been made more dangerous for officers at the facility.

The entire dispute stems from the union?s call for binding arbitration in their contract dispute. Suozzi has not agreed to the arbitration, claiming he doesn?t want to tie the hands of lawmakers and future administrations. The officers have been without a contract for the past year and a half. A spokesperson for the Sheriff?s Department says a lower number of inmates, not political pressure, sparked the maximum-security wing closure.