PEF Members to Picket Paterson Fundraiser Protesting Layoffs and Cuts to State Services

MANHATTAN, NY (04/22/2009)(readMedia)-- State employees represented by the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) will be outside a fundraiser for Gov. Paterson Thursday, April 23, protesting his plan to lay off thousands of state workers.

PEF members and leaders will carry signs that read "No Layoffs" and "Cut the Waste, Not the Workers." They also will distribute flyers with examples of how the state is wasting money on thousands of private consultants while claiming it can't afford 8,700 state workers.

A group calling itself "Lawyers for Paterson" is holding a fundraiser for Paterson at The Harvard Club of New York City Thursday, April 23 at noon. PEF members will begin gathering outside the event at 35 West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) at 11:30 am.

The informational picket will focus on avoiding the layoffs and saving the state workforce, in addition to sending a message to the governor about better ways to reduce costs that won't damage the services New York citizens rely on.

PEF is the state's second-largest state-employee union, representing 59,000 professional,scientific and technical employees.

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