CSEA President Donohue Response on State Management Layoff Exemption

ALBANY, NY (04/03/2009)(readMedia)--

"CSEA is stunned that the Paterson Administration would once again put politics ahead of good government by announcing that he will exempt Management/Confidential personnel from his threatened layoffs.

It should be pointed out that the governor has the right to withhold salary increases and other payments to M/C personnel because they do not have the same contractual obligations as unionized employees. But it is irresponsible to say that management personnel will largely be untouched by his agency downsizing.

What Gov. Paterson is saying is that the highest paid personnel will not be included as part of his cost-cutting moves. He is also saying that the brunt of his reductions will be on the lower paid employees who actually do the work of the state every day. Management personnel will certainly not be doing any of the heavy lifting of state government services.

Governor Paterson needs to answer to the people who are already taking care of individuals in developmental disabilities group homes without adequate help; He needs to answer to people who are working mandated double shifts to take care of human needs and maintain essential services every day, about how he can possibly justify this approach.

CSEA has already said that Governor Paterson needs to answer to the people of New York about who he will lay off , why it's necessary and how it will affect your quality of life. This latest action demands accountability.

No one should doubt that the Paterson's administration's heavy-handed politics will put people at risk."

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