New York State AFL-CIO Pans Misguided Report on Cost Savings for Local Government

ALBANY, NY (04/30/2008)(readMedia)-- In response to today’s release of the Report of the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, New York State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes issued the following statement:

“The report issued today by the New York State Commission on Local government Efficiency and Competitiveness was seemingly prepared under the misguided concept that it is the responsibility of working men and women to cure the economic ills of local governments.

“The report unfortunately presents a one-sided point of view on how local governments can achieve cost savings in New York State, and unfairly places the burden of solving the cost issue squarely on the shoulders of working men and women, and in particular, our public workforce. This is not surprising, considering the labor movement was not represented on this committee.

“The report contains many troubling recommendations that are not only detrimental to the financial health and well-being of working men and women, but will only serve to further hasten this state’s economic downturn. In particular, the report’s attacks on health insurance, pension benefits, collective bargaining rights and other labor protections will not only undermine whatever financial security average working families still have, but the residual economic hardship it will inflict upon our upstate and rural communities will be felt for years to come.

“Having said this, it is important to note that these are only recommendations, and that each must be individually addressed through the legislative process. As such, there will be plenty of time to properly discuss and fully dissect each proposal.

“The New York State AFL-CIO looks forward to being a part of the public discourse, and is willing to listen to real and workable solutions that address the problems our local governments face. Solutions that include establishing a fair income tax system at the state level that will ensure our local governments and schools are not starved of the revenue they need to provide the services working New Yorkers rely on. Solutions that include fixing our broken economic development programs and industrial development agencies, and the practice of allowing business to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. And solutions that include curbing our health insurance costs, rather than passing on those costs to workers.

“As time goes on, I am confident that the legislature will consider each of these proposals on their merits, and heed the concerns of working men and women throughout this state.”

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