Donohue GOER Testimony Response

ALBANY, NY (02/04/2009)(readMedia)-- "CSEA is surprised and angered to learn during a public hearing that the Governor's Office of Employee Relations is preparing for concession bargaining with the state employee unions. The administration has apparently not heard CSEA's repeated statements that we will not re-open contracts.

It is insulting and counterproductive that the Director of GOER would make a matter of fact public statement to the Legislature about such a plan when in fact there has been no discussion with CSEA on the subject and our position has already been made clear.

For the record, let me also address misinformation regarding CSEA-represented employees' salaries and benefits. Today, the average CSEA state employee earns a salary of less than $40,000. Out of that he or she pays 25 percent of their family health insurance coverage (10 percent for individuals), which amounts to several thousand dollars annually. Employees with less than ten years of service contribute three percent of their salary annually towards their pension. The average CSEA member's pension from the state retirement system is about $14,000 after 30 years of service.

Out of their salaries CSEA members also pay the same income and property taxes as other New Yorkers.

Local government and school district employees represented by CSEA have even lower average salaries and the vast majority have the same benefit and pension requirements and tax demands.

At the same time, CSEA members are working hard every day to provide services for New Yorkers and they are working in increasingly difficult circumstances without a lot of help coming their way.

CSEA does not apologize for trying to maintain a little dignity, respect and fairness for our members when we say no to concession bargaining and no to regressive new taxes and fees that will hit working people disproportionately."

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