Workplace injuries trigger vicious cycle of worker suffering, taxpayer expense


By KENNETH BRYNIEN A few months ago, the state


Department of Civil Service issued its annual study on the impact of workers’ compensation claims. Two months later, the state comptroller released his study of agencies with the highest rates of overtime. It comes as no surprise the agencies with the highest overtime costs are also the agencies with the highest workers’ comp costs. Adding insult to injury, in many


cases, the state has used per diem contract employees to address the short staffing created by workplace injuries, costing the state’s taxpayers even more. Every 120 minutes of every day, a


state employee suffers an injury that causes them to lose work time. By year’s end, it has cost the state the work time equivalent of nearly 1,100 full-time employees. In past studies, it has been


determined workplace injuries cost the state between $113 million and $227 million per year in direct and indirect costs. Reducing injuries by just 20


is requiring OMH to report to it annually until 2015 on how many children are affected by this change and how much it is costing the taxpayers.”


All but the trunk and tail PEF members at OMH and the other


state mental hygiene and health agencies – Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Health Department (DOH), and the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) – have been on guard for more than a year against the looming specter of being merged into one monolithic blob. This year, the governor managed to jam


a big piece of that elephant into the room, when he came away with budget authorization to establish joint operating, reporting and construction requirements for these agencies. The legislators also curtailed some of


the headlong privatization efforts at OPWDD. They refused to authorize some pilot projects. However, conflicting budget language may open the door to making the commissioner the sole appointing authority, which could force PEF members


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mention the reduced overtime cost and the reduced emotional and physical toll on the workers. The findings of these studies


present the governor with an opportunity, not only to save money, but to improve the working conditions of state employees. That’s a win-win scenario, and one that would cost the state little to implement. However, like his predecessors, the


governor seems to have little inclination to pursue the idea. If it doesn’t fit into his agenda, then


IT’S ONLY FAIR – PEF President Ken Brynien speaks at a stateAFL-CIO press conference in March supporting legislation that would allow the state to sue to recover state pension funds lost throughWall Street investment fraud. —Photo by Sherry Halbrook


percent, through comprehensive prevention efforts that address the causes of injuries, could save $45 million in direct costs alone, not to


at that agency to accept transfers to distant parts of the state or face layoff when facilities or services are closed. The budget allows OPWDD to hire deputy directors from outside state service. Changes to this year’s budget do not


directly affect OPWDD’s continuing plans to close Monroe Developmental Center or reduce staff and operations at Finger Lakes and Taconic service offices.


Down the drain Pressure from the governor and the


mayor of New York was too much, apparently, for legislators to resist. They caved in to demands the state hand over to the city its responsibility for the court- ordered custody, treatment and education of the less violent troubled youths from that city. Only the youngsters requiring full-security housing will be in the state’s care. And, as at OMH, the state Office of


Children and Family Services may now hand off the education of any and all youths in its care to BOCES. These services are currently provided by PEF members.


it is up to us to educate him and the public regarding the impact to our members and the taxpayers of the vicious cycle of short staffing, worker injury, overtime and the excessive cost of contract employees. Last month, on Workers Memorial


Day, we remembered our fellow workers who were killed or injured on the job. It is a fitting tribute to them that we work to end the vicious cycle of short staffing, and the consequences that follow. After all, it is a win-win for us, too.


Down the road Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo


was operated by the state Health Department for many years before the state made it a quasi-public/private entity. At that time, PEF negotiated the right to continue representing Roswell’s professional, scientific and technical employees and a new civil service system was established at the research and treatment center. This year’s state budget, however, starts


the clock ticking for the state to wash its hands of continuing support and connection to Roswell. The institute must come up with a plan by the end of 2013 for its total operational and fiscal independence from the state. The legislators, however, did reject the governor’s language that would automatically halt any state funding in 2014. What these changes will mean for the


hundreds of PEF members at Roswell Park is an issue the union will continue to follow very closely.


The Communicator May 2012—Page 7


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE


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