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Happy Holidays: state pink slips went out to 891 employees on Friday
Dec 11, 2010 11:13 am
The Times Union reports this morning that New York State sent out pink slips to 891 state employees on Friday, December 10, notifying them they were on track for termination as of January 1. By being notified on Friday, the state has met the 20-day notice requirement for state work force reductions. State agencies varied in how they notified workers: most provided personal notification as well as a mailed or parcel post delivery of letters explaining the terminations.
Outgoing governor David Paterson has maintained the layoffs are needed to achieve a goal of $250 million in workforce savings, and he has noted that unions rejected earlier calls for give-backs. Union heads counter that the savings are minimal in light of the $9 billion budget deficit looming next year and the firings won't account for added expenses in unemployment insurance and lost tax revenue.
Due to the cutbacks in staff, the state is looking to close public access to one of the entrances to the Capitol complex and most likely will close the State Street door to the Legislative Office Building to all but employees.
When the dust settles from Gov. David Paterson's layoffs next month, fewer than the approximately 900 people who've been targeted will actually lose their jobs, state officials predicted Friday.
"It is fair to say by the end of the year not all of those 891 people will be on the street as the result of layoffs," said Erik Kriss, spokesman for the state Division of Budget.
"You still have essential positions in state government that are open and need to be filled," he said, adding that in some cases jobs like correctional officers or direct care workers become vacant unexpectedly. In those instances, people on the layoff lists would have the first shot at filling those jobs.
Additionally, Kriss noted that some employees on layoff lists are able to retire and at least one person has recently died.
Nonetheless, 891 state employees on Friday received notices that they were on track for termination. By being notified on Friday, the state has met the 20-day notice requirement for state work force reductions.
State agencies varied in how they notified workers: most provided personal notification as well as a mailed or parcel post delivery of letters explaining the terminations, effective Jan. 1.
Unions representing state employees blasted the cuts, with CSEA President Danny Donohue saying they were done out of "political spite," and PEF President Ken Brynien calling it "unnecessary and unconscionable."
Paterson has maintained the layoffs are needed to achieve a goal of $250 million in workforce savings, and he has noted that unions rejected earlier calls for give-backs.
Union heads note the savings are minimal in light of the $9 billion budget deficit looming next year and the firings won't account for added expenses in unemployment insurance and lost tax revenue.
The targeted workers were bitter, noting they are entering the worst job market in years.
"Merry Christmas guys," said Don Bush, a mechanic at the Belleayre ski center.
He's relatively lucky -- he has the option of going from full- to part-time status -- meaning a pay cut of approximately $22- to $18-an-hour, after 24 years of experience.
He knows of co-workers who will earn even less and they are wondering how they'll pay rent or make car payments. One co-worker is about to give back the new truck he purchased.
"People are very nervous and very afraid," he said.
To be sure, New Yorkers across the state will see some reduction in services right off the bat, said Chris Hickey, vice president at New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc.
Park rangers are being laid off at Riverbank and Roberto Clemente state parks in Manhattan and the Bronx, he said.
Two educational centers run by the Department of Environmental Conservation -- Rogers in Sherburne, Chenango County, and Stony Kill Farm in Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County -- will be closed.
Also closing is Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, Erie County.
And 33 full time and seven hourly security screeners in the Capitol complex are on the termination list.
Adding insult to injury, Hickey said the state Office of General Services is advertising to hire a private security firm in the Empire State Plaza.
OGS spokeswoman Heather Groll stressed the openings are for security during off-hours events, such as car shows, which would be paid for by the sponsors, not taxpayers.
"This has been going on for a number of years," said Groll, who said the ad was not related to the layoffs.
Hickey noted the security screeners had in past years helped guard special events on an overtime basis.
"We were an easy mark," said Alfred Christian, the screeners' chief union steward.
Christian added that, due to the cutbacks in staff, the state is looking to close public access to one of the entrances to the Capitol complex.
Most likely, they will close the State Street door to the Legislative Office Building to all but employees.
This could make for longer lines during legislative sessions, when scores of people descend on the Capitol to lobby for various causes, press events and other activities.
The state hasn't officially announced plans for the access points.
Additionally the Empire State Games are being cancelled and the State Museum in Albany will close on Sundays.
State employees weren't the only public workers getting bad news this week. As of Wednesday approximately 1,000 employees of the New York City Off Track Betting Corp. were jobless after the Senate on Tuesday failed to pass a bill that would have rescued the bankrupt organization.
Outgoing governor David Paterson has maintained the layoffs are needed to achieve a goal of $250 million in workforce savings, and he has noted that unions rejected earlier calls for give-backs. Union heads counter that the savings are minimal in light of the $9 billion budget deficit looming next year and the firings won't account for added expenses in unemployment insurance and lost tax revenue.
Due to the cutbacks in staff, the state is looking to close public access to one of the entrances to the Capitol complex and most likely will close the State Street door to the Legislative Office Building to all but employees.
When the dust settles from Gov. David Paterson's layoffs next month, fewer than the approximately 900 people who've been targeted will actually lose their jobs, state officials predicted Friday.
"It is fair to say by the end of the year not all of those 891 people will be on the street as the result of layoffs," said Erik Kriss, spokesman for the state Division of Budget.
"You still have essential positions in state government that are open and need to be filled," he said, adding that in some cases jobs like correctional officers or direct care workers become vacant unexpectedly. In those instances, people on the layoff lists would have the first shot at filling those jobs.
Additionally, Kriss noted that some employees on layoff lists are able to retire and at least one person has recently died.
Nonetheless, 891 state employees on Friday received notices that they were on track for termination. By being notified on Friday, the state has met the 20-day notice requirement for state work force reductions.
State agencies varied in how they notified workers: most provided personal notification as well as a mailed or parcel post delivery of letters explaining the terminations, effective Jan. 1.
Unions representing state employees blasted the cuts, with CSEA President Danny Donohue saying they were done out of "political spite," and PEF President Ken Brynien calling it "unnecessary and unconscionable."
Paterson has maintained the layoffs are needed to achieve a goal of $250 million in workforce savings, and he has noted that unions rejected earlier calls for give-backs.
Union heads note the savings are minimal in light of the $9 billion budget deficit looming next year and the firings won't account for added expenses in unemployment insurance and lost tax revenue.
The targeted workers were bitter, noting they are entering the worst job market in years.
"Merry Christmas guys," said Don Bush, a mechanic at the Belleayre ski center.
He's relatively lucky -- he has the option of going from full- to part-time status -- meaning a pay cut of approximately $22- to $18-an-hour, after 24 years of experience.
He knows of co-workers who will earn even less and they are wondering how they'll pay rent or make car payments. One co-worker is about to give back the new truck he purchased.
"People are very nervous and very afraid," he said.
To be sure, New Yorkers across the state will see some reduction in services right off the bat, said Chris Hickey, vice president at New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc.
Park rangers are being laid off at Riverbank and Roberto Clemente state parks in Manhattan and the Bronx, he said.
Two educational centers run by the Department of Environmental Conservation -- Rogers in Sherburne, Chenango County, and Stony Kill Farm in Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County -- will be closed.
Also closing is Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, Erie County.
And 33 full time and seven hourly security screeners in the Capitol complex are on the termination list.
Adding insult to injury, Hickey said the state Office of General Services is advertising to hire a private security firm in the Empire State Plaza.
OGS spokeswoman Heather Groll stressed the openings are for security during off-hours events, such as car shows, which would be paid for by the sponsors, not taxpayers.
"This has been going on for a number of years," said Groll, who said the ad was not related to the layoffs.
Hickey noted the security screeners had in past years helped guard special events on an overtime basis.
"We were an easy mark," said Alfred Christian, the screeners' chief union steward.
Christian added that, due to the cutbacks in staff, the state is looking to close public access to one of the entrances to the Capitol complex.
Most likely, they will close the State Street door to the Legislative Office Building to all but employees.
This could make for longer lines during legislative sessions, when scores of people descend on the Capitol to lobby for various causes, press events and other activities.
The state hasn't officially announced plans for the access points.
Additionally the Empire State Games are being cancelled and the State Museum in Albany will close on Sundays.
State employees weren't the only public workers getting bad news this week. As of Wednesday approximately 1,000 employees of the New York City Off Track Betting Corp. were jobless after the Senate on Tuesday failed to pass a bill that would have rescued the bankrupt organization.