Governor threatens layoffs, special session Wednesday
By
By PAT BAILEY
Story Created:
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:16 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jul 27, 2010 at 12:16 PM EDT
ALBANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - Governor David Paterson has called the legislature back to Albany for a special session Wednesday. The session is in response to the budget being 17 weeks late.
Governor Paterson says because of the late budget and a continued decline in revenues, the planning process has started for state worker layoffs. There is a decline in revenues not only from taxes but from the federal government, and that is what is causing "real conversations" about laying off some of the states' 200,000 state workers, Paterson said.
New York State Budget Spokesman, Erik Kriss, says the goal of layoffs would be to save $250 million. Kriss says state unions are not willing to negotiate other solutions.
According to Kriss, the Governor proposed a week lag in pay to state workers, and early retirement incentives to achieve the $250 million goal, however the unions did not want to accept the proposal.
The Public Employees Federation union is accusing Paterson of using state workers as a "pawn" in his political fight with the legislature. Another state union, the CSEA says New Yorkers would be better served if Governor Paterson would stop his public statements and instead work with the legislature to solve the state's challenges.
"It is also important to note that the Governor continues to stretch credibility when he insists the state work force must be reduced while his administration refuses to target positions for down sizing through the early retirement incentives," said CSEA President Danny Donohue. "The fact is that the state work force is already stretched too thin to adequately do the job."
According to the Associated Press, The Civil Service Employees Association said Monday Governor Paterson is bound by an agreement not to lay off state workers until January 1st at the earliest.
