Nolayoffs,Nocontract
By SHERRY a$20,000non-pensionable,severance conditionofthestate’sfinances,(the
HALBROOK buyouttoselectedemployees. creationofTier5)representsareasonable
Thelong AndPatersonisdirectingstateagencies accommodationwhichpreservesthe
monthsofworry togivetheiremployeesmoreaccessto integrityofourcontractandprovidescost
aboutjob,payand programsthatallowforvoluntary savingstothestateinlieuoflayoffs.We
retirement reductionsinworkschedules(VRWS). willcontinuetopushthegovernorandthe
securityhave “OurPS&Tcontracthasprovidedfor Legislaturetoreducetherelianceoncostly
turnedacorner VRWSformorethan20years,”Brynien privateconsultantsasawayforthestate
withthe said.“However,somestateagencieshave toaddressfuturefinancialcrises.”
announcement beenreluctanttoapproveourmembers’ Asthestateworkforceisstripped
June5ofanagreementbetween applicationstouseit.Weareveryhopeful furtherbythehiringfreezeandbuyouts,
PEFandthegovernortostopthe thatthisnewagreementwillspurmuch workloadsandresponsibilitieswillmount
threatenedlayoffsandhelpbridgethe wideracceptanceofVRWSbyallstate forallthestateemployeeswhoremainon
state’sbudgetgap. agencies.Oncetheygetusedtoit,we thejob,Bryniensaid.Nevertheless,even
“Notonlyhavewebeenabletosaveour believetheywillfinditcanbeasvaluable “underthesedifficultcircumstances,we
members’jobs,wehungtoughagainst tothemasitcanbeforourmemberswho standreadytocontinuetoprovidehigh-
pressuretoreopenourcontract,giveup areinterestedinrestrictingtheirtimeon qualityservicestothecitizensofthestate
ourmembers’payraisesfor2009and thejobandarewillingtosacrificesomeof tothebestofourabilities.”
allowthestatetowithholdaweek’spay,” theirpaytogetmoretimeoff.” BrynienpraisedPEFmembersfortheir
saidPEFPresidentKenBrynien“Webent Inreturnfortheseaccommodationsby courageandstaunchrefusaltocavein
torespondtothestate’sfiscalcrisis,but thegovernor,theunionsagreednotto underthestate’seffortstointimidatethem
wedidnotbreak.” activelyopposehisproposalforcreatinga intoreopeningtheircontractandgivingup
“Iwanttothanktheunionleadership Tier5intheretirementsystemforfuture theirhard-wonpayraiseorotherbenefits.
fordoingwhatisrightbytheirworkers hires.However,Patersonwaspersuadedto “Wehadagreatdealatstake,butwe
andNewYork,”saidGov.DavidPaterson. modifysomeoftheprovisionshehad prevailedbecausewestoodtogetherand
“WearetakingGov.Patersonathis originallyproposedforthenewtier. didnotflinch,”Bryniensaid.
word,thatheisforegoinghisplanfor Whiletheuniondoesnotwelcomethe
8,700statelayoffs,andthatnoPS&T creationofyetanotherpensiontier,
employeeswillbelaidoffinthisfiscalyear Bryniensaidtheunionsrecognizedthatit
Buyout
ornext,beyondthoseoriginallyspecifiedin willprovidesomefinancialrelieftolocal
ThestateDivisionofBudget(DOB)and
thebudgetandrelatedtothefacility governmentsaswellasthestate.
thevariousstateagencieswilldecide
closingsandprogramreductions,”Brynien “Thegovernormovedsignificantlyfrom
whichemployeeswillreceivethe$20,000
said. hisoriginaldemandsformajorcontract
buyoutoffers.
Underthetermsoftheagreement concessionsfromthestate’sworkforce,”
AccordingtoPaterson’sannouncement
negotiatedbyPEFandtheCivilService Bryniensaidinannouncingthe
oftheagreement,thestatewillofferthe
EmployeesAssociation,thestatewilloffer agreement.“Consideringthedeteriorating
buyoutstoapproximately4,500employees
Deaths,riotpromptdemandsto
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Thousandand18-year-old theprivatelyoperatedRandolphChildren’s
ThestateOfficeof
AnthonyAllen,arechargedwith HomeinwesternNY,foughtwithpolice
ChildrenandFamily
killingGrecotocover-upa$160 andstaff,forcingauthoritiestousepepper
Services(OCFS)hastakena
theftthatoccurredinthehome. spraytoquellthemelee.
radicalnewdirectionthe
pasttwoyearsunder
O
C
F
S
Thiswasnotanisolated AndPEFhasreceivednumerous
tragedy. complaintsfrommemberswhoworkin
CommissionerGladys
OCFShasbeenmoving OCFSfacilities,statingCarrion’schanges
Carrion,adirectionPEF
juvenileoffendersand havecreatedabreakdownindiscipline,
warnedwouldbecostly.
delinquentsoutofmore causingaviolentenvironmentwhere
Unfortunately,ittookthe
securestate-runfacilitiesand troubledyouthsassaultstaffandgangs
deathof24-year-oldRenee
intocommunities. intimidateotheryouths.
GrecowhowasbludgeonedJune8, OnJune23,ateenagerwasarrestedfor
“Someoneneedstobeheldaccountable
allegedlybytwoyouthsatAvenueHouse,a amurdercommittedMay30inBrooklyn.
forthesedeathsandthewaythejuvenile
privatelyoperatedgrouphomeinLockport, TheteenwasinanOCFSaftercare
justicesysteminNewYorkhas
toraisethefinalredflagthatthestate’s programandwasreleasedfromalimited-
deteriorated,”saidPEFPresidentKen
juvenilejusticesystemisoutofcontrol. secureresidentialfacilityMarch30despite
Brynien.
GrecowasacounselorattheOCFS- concernsabouthisreleasefromstaffers.
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