“Governor David Paterson continues to play a damaging game of politics with the state workforce and their families. We are disappointed that he continues to claim to have only two choices: concessions or layoffs,” New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) President Kenneth Brynien stated at a press conference today held at the union’s headquarters in Latham.

“PEF recognizes these are difficult times. We recognize that people’s wages are being frozen or cut and jobs are being lost all across this great state. Like the governor, we, too, do not take our decision lightly. If we weren’t so certain there is a better way to save the state the $481 million, our position might be very different.

“The governor claims to “have taken a major step toward restoring our state’s fiscal and economic strength.” We do not believe that calling for the layoff of nearly 9,000 employees and the economic ripple effect this will have on the state’s economy is consistent with his goal. We continue to offer proposals that will meet the governor’s financial need as well as eliminate the need for contract concessions and layoffs by making state government more efficient and
cost-effective. Unfortunately, these proposals have been largely ignored, as the governor insists on sacrifice that he has been unwilling to demand from others.

“The governor has insulated his political appointees from cuts ensuring that all of the reductions fall on the people actually doing the work. Cuts in agencies such as the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities will be on the people working directly with
New York’s most vulnerable citizens. In a time when some of these citizens died in a fire because of low staffing, the governor cuts even more staff.

“We demand that the governor stop playing politics with peoples’ lives and realize there are less damaging ways to cut the cost of state government than by laying off hard working public employees.”

PEF represents approximately 59,000 professional, scientific and technical employees of New York State. For more information, call Director of Public Relations Darcy Wells at 518 785-1900, ext. 277 or on her cell at 518 859-1274. Or e-mail her at dwells@pef.org