overjobs,concessionsrageson
NOLAYOFFS—PEFRegion8member SURROUNDED—Gov.Patersontalksto SYRACUSE—PatriciaWilliams,Denise
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MemberstoPEF:Don’tblink
inconcessionsvslayoffsstaredown
By SHERRY HALBROOK membersandCSEAmembersarmedwith
Thestatehasitsbudget,butthebattle bullhorns,whistles,clappers,signsand
continuesandit’sdefinitelyhardball. “NoLayoffs”stickersheldanoisyprotest
TheglovescameoffinAprilanditgot outsidetheGideonPutnamHotelwhere
downtobareknuckleswiththegovernor thegovernorwasspeakingtofellow
determinedtoget$481millionfromstate DemocratsinSaratogaSprings.
employees,andtheunioninsistingheuse Patersonsteppedoutsidetospeakfor
betteroptionsforgettingthemoney. aboutsevenminuteswithPEFSecretary-
TreasurerArleaIgoe,Region8
PEFgoestothepublic CoordinatorTomComanzo,andtwo
PEFputitsmoneywhereitsmouthis, leadersfromCSEA.
runningTVandprintadsincludingafull Surroundedbyatightandjostling
pageinThe New York Timescallingfor knotofreporters,camerasand
Gov.DavidPatersontostopstonewalling microphones(thatPaterson’saideskept
andconsiderPEF’srecommendationsfor pushingaside,claimingtheconversation
closingthebudgetgap,insteadof ALBANY—KenBrynienandDanny was“private”),theunionleaderspeppered
insistingonlayoffs,payandpensioncuts. Donohuetellmed
PEFalsoheldjointpressconferences
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thegovernorwithquestionsaboutwhyhe
insistsonsacrificesfromstateemployees,
andprotestdemonstrationswiththeCivil saidPEFPresidentKenBrynien.“Someof andrejectsallotheroptionsforraisingthe
ServiceEmployeesAssociation(CSEA), themrespondeddirectlytothegovernor, $481million.
pressuringthegovernortostopthelayoffs andmanymorecontactedus.(See Patersonsaidhehadtakentheiradvice
andproposednewpensionTier5. letters, page 6.) andraisedtaxesonthewealthy,buthe
“We’regettingabout100e-mailsper wasstillwaitingtohearwhatstate
Governorgoestomembers hourfromourmemberstellingusnotto employeeswoulddotohelpeasethe
InearlyApril,thegovernorretaliated backdown,”Brynientoldreportersata crisis.
byallowinghisstafftoleakbitsof pressconferenceatPEFheadquartersthe “Ourmembersrisktheirlivesdoing
informationaboutthesituationtothe dayaftermembersreceivedPaterson’s theirjobsforthestate,”Igoesaid.
AssociatedPressat5p.m.almostdaily letter. “Stateemployeeshavealreadyhad
cominguptoPassoverandEaster,putting PEFfiledanimproperpracticecharge threeweeksoftheirpaylagged,”said
unionleadersonthespottorespond withthePublicEmploymentRelations CSEAExec.VicePresidentMarySullivan.
instantlyaftertheirofficesclosedtoget Board,chargingthegovernor’sletter
theirsideonthe6p.m.news. violatedthestateTaylorLawby NewYork,Syracuse,too
Thegovernordidnotstopthere.He interferingbetweentheunionandits Theunionsalsoplannedprotestsfor
alsotriedtooutflanktheunionsand membersandbythreateningtoretaliate lateApriloutsidethegovernor’s
dividetheirmembersbywritingdirectlyto againstunionmembersforrefusingto Manhattanoffices,attheHarvardClub
thememberstoblametheirunionsfor reopentheircontract.PERBisscheduled wherehewasexpectedtospeakandatNY
jeopardizingtheirjobs.Whilethis toholditsfirstconferenceonthecharge CityHall.
maneuversucceededingettingstate May20. AndPEFRegion4memberssupported
employees’attention,itbackfiredonthe aCSEAdemonstrationoutsidethedistrict
governor. ShowdowninSaratoga officeofSen.DavidValeskyinSyracusein
“Itreallygotourmembers’backsup,” Inmid-April,hundredsofPEFRegion8 earlyApril.
www.pef.org TheCommunicatorMay2009—Page5
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