ALBANY, N.Y. — Labor leaders on Monday accused New York Gov. David Paterson of using union families as political pawns by preparing a plan that could lead to layoffs of state workers in coming months. Paterson told The Associated Press Sunday that a late budget and declining revenues from taxes and the federal government is forcing an immediate “real conversation”...
ALBANY, N.Y. — Labor leaders on Monday accused New York Gov. David Paterson of using union families as political pawns by preparing a plan that could lead to layoffs of state workers in coming months.
Paterson told The Associated Press Sunday that a late budget and declining revenues from taxes and the federal government is forcing an immediate “real conversation” about laying off some of the state’s more than 200,000 workers before Jan. 1.
The Civil Service Employees Association and the Public Employees Federation unions argued that Paterson is bound by his previous pledge not to lay off state workers until at least Jan. 1. He made the pledge in December as part of a deal to get public unions to agree to a new, less expensive pension plan for future hires.
“Governor Paterson knows full well that he has a binding agreement with CSEA that has been upheld by the courts,” said Danny Donohue, the CSEA’s president. “All New Yorkers would be better served if Gov. Paterson stopped the inflammatory public statements.”
On Jan. 1, a new governor will be in office who wouldn’t have to follow any layoff plans set by Paterson, who has chosen not to seek a full term.
Kenneth Brynien, president of the Public Employees Federation, said his union intends to hold the governor to his word. “It is unconscionable for the governor to continue scapegoating state employees and their families for the fiscal crisis or use them as pawns in his negotiations with the Legislature,” Brynien said.
Paterson said layoffs will be necessary because union leaders refused to accept a short delay in pay and refused to accept furloughs, each of which would have saved the state the $250 million the governor has said is needed to avoid layoffs. An early retirement incentive that was part of the deal reached in December hasn’t reduced employment enough.
“Some unfortunate people who don’t deserve it are going to get laid off,” Paterson said Monday. “It burns me to have to say that because I don’t think it’s fair.”
“Everybody finds a way that someone else should make a sacrifice,” Paterson said of the budget with a $9.2 billion deficit that is still unfinished since it was due April 1. “I don’t think that’s a very good culture or a spirit of New York. It’s not the way New Yorkers addressed this problem 80 years ago. Everyone pitched in then. And everyone needs to pitch in now.”