PEF President sets record straight at hearing on work force issues

Albany – The president of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) testified today before the state Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees on work force issues setting the record straight on the size of the state work force and how it affects state spending. PEF President Kenneth Brynien also laid out a detailed plan for how the state can save hundreds of millions of dollars without eliminating jobs and services.

“There has been no growth in the size of the state work force, yet the proposed budget is striking, once again, at the public servants who deliver vital services,” Brynien said. “If the proposed budget is enacted, the state work force will be the same size it was 10 years ago and more than 15,000 positions fewer than in 1994, despite an increased need for state services,” Brynien said.

Brynien pointed out the budget proposal includes a $250 million cut in the salary and benefits of state employees while agencies continue to increase spending on private consultants that already cost more than state employees.

“New York State continues to pay thousands of consultants performing professional services an average of $160,719 annually. That’s 62 percent more than it cost to have state employees do similar work, including the cost of their benefits,” Brynien testified.

Brynien also said the proposal to eliminate salary increases and to lag pay violate negotiated labor agreements, noting contracts negotiated in good faith must be honored.

PEF proposed ways to achieve the work force savings identified in the Executive Budget proposal, but without the negative effects that would come from cutting state services, and still honoring the state’s contractual commitments to its employees.

“This can be achieved by: instituting a consultant-reduction plan to save $656 million over the next three years; expanding the voluntary severance program; instituting a Workplace Injury Reduction Program to reduce workers compensation costs; and reducing overtime costs by 60 percent by hiring entry-level state employees for a savings of $33.5 million annually,” Brynien said.

PEF is the state’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 58,000 professional, scientific and technical employees.