WENY-TV News, May 14, 2010, Friday

WENY-TV News

May 14, 2010, Friday

WENY-TV News

Expert Says Furloughs Won't Make It Past Federal Judge

Katherine Underwood

As WENY-TV first told you Wednesday, there's a temporary restraining order blocking Governor David Paterson's furlough strategy, until a judge decides if it's legal.
Cornell labor relations expert, Rebecca Givan thinks this is all just a little game of chicken.

“The governor is trying to sort of stare down the public employee unions and they're staring right back at him,” Givan suggested.

Givan says it's nearly impossible to furlough unionized workers because the governor cannot override contracts without mutual agreement.

She thinks Governor David Paterson knew he wouldn't get anywhere with the furloughs, but it was a way to make the unions look bad.

“It's a way to say we really want public employees to share this sacrifice, as they're calling it, and the unions are saying, ‘look we've given you plenty of other strategies for saving money,’” Givan said.

Workers unions like the Civil Service Employees Association say they've sacrificed enough.
CSEA Spokesman Mark Kotzin says they've even agreed to pension reform to help the governor save money.

“We've done a lot more with a lot less resources our people are working the jobs of many people and they’re still getting the work of the state done,” Kotzin explained. “So, it’s wrong to say there hasn't been any sacrifices.”

Paterson says the one-day-a-week furloughs would save about $30 million a week.
Kotzin says that's not enough to pull the state out of its fiscal crisis, but it is enough to hurt workers and their families.

“It would have a very negative impact on their livelihood, it would have an impact on their ability to spend money in their communities, to pay their taxes, to meet their financial obligations,” he said.

Givan says the impact of the furloughs would reach far beyond state workers.
“It’s not only about cutting their salary 20 percent, it’s about cutting the services that we all need by 20 percent and that's a sacrifice on everyone,” she explained.]

Givan expects Paterson and the unions to head to the negotiating table.
Kotzin says the unions are willing to work something out, but they won't break contract.