PEF launches statewide ad campaign to fight work force reductions

The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) has launched a statewide television, print and Web advertising campaign to educate the public and legislative leaders on the devastating impact of further cuts to state services.

"PEF recognizes the seriousness of the current economic crisis, but Gov. David Paterson’s plan to lay off nearly 1,000 state employees has the potential to seriously hamper services on which New York taxpayers rely,” said PEF President Kenneth Brynien. "The ads point out the state work force has already been cut by 11,500 jobs since 2008. It’s time for the governor to ask himself which state services he is willing to tell taxpayers they must do without," Brynien said.

The ads, which feature an empty desk, began running Monday, November 15, on broadcast and cable television statewide. Print advertisements have been placed in targeted newspapers across the state and will be supported by ads on newspaper websites including The New York Times, New York Post and NY Daily News.

The television, Web and print ads can be viewed at http://www.pef.org/stopthecuts

This latest ad campaign directs the public and legislative leaders to the PEF website for more information on which services will be effected. The PEF website also offers solutions on how to achieve savings without adding to the unemployment rolls.

Urgent Call to Action to counter layoff's

We are asking all of our members, especially those who may be directly affected by Governor Paterson’s layoff to contact Governor-Elect Andrew Cuomo to help put a face on the layoffs.  Below is a sample letter for you to use.  Please include how these layoffs affect you personally, for example, how many years you have worked for the state, family circumstances, etc.  Please keep in mind the letter below is just a sample, speak from your heart and make sure your voice is heard. Please send a copy of your letter to PEF.

We have sent a letter to Governor-Elect Cuomo asking him to suspend the layoffs and to reopen the ERI.

Nearly 700 of our members who wanted to take the ERI and were denied have contacted us; it is likely other state bargaining units also have members who were denied.  The state should make sure those who want the ERI are offered it, before anyone is laid off.

We will continue to fight the layoffs using whatever tools are available to us including member mobilization, political action and public relations.  If there are layoffs before December 31^st, in violation of the MOU, we will challenge those in court.

We will also be launching a statewide media campaign that will highlight the impact on state services of the cuts to the state work force since the fiscal crisis began in 2008.

Please continue to visit the PEF website for updates on what further activities we may have planned.

Ken Brynien
Arlea Igoe
Joe Fox
Pat Baker
Tom Comanzo

A sample letter is here and also available for download in Word format.

Open Letter to Gov. Paterson

Dear Governor Paterson:

I read today that you are moving ahead with your ill advised scheme to layoff state employees. I received this through the usual channels.  It was given to PEF by a reporter.

Since the Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) process began earlier this year PEF has sought official numbers from your Division of Budget with no success.  Budget has refused to respond to requests via e-mail or phone call.  Yet, the press has been provided on a regular basis with updates from budget’s press office.  So, it appears, this is the only way to communicate with your administration.

I have several questions and concerns about your cavalier use of the term “layoff.”  First, given (1) Comptroller Dinapoli’s recent report that costs for state operations, including General State Charges, is down nearly $600 million and this is before full implementation of the ERI and (2) that you keep claiming you need to save $250 million why do you continue to claim you need to achieve savings in state operations?

Second, how do you plan to accomplish the work not being done by the more than  5,000 state employees leaving via the ERI?  The people of New York expect that you will actually save money by reducing the work force yet if you intend on hiring costly contractors or are forced to use additional overtime where are the savings?  I understand you attempted some humor about the loss of services, but for many New Yorkers this is serious and they deserve a serious answer not some cavalier comment about snow being plowed.

Third, why did you allow agencies to fail to fully implement the ERI?  I see that you have again targeted the Department of Corrections even though your Division of Budget approved only 77 Part A early retirements.  Why?  Why was 77 acceptable in August, but in October there is the need for more?  Some agencies only offered the ERI to the most senior person in the title and work location and if that person refused the offer the agency stopped even though there was a willing person lower on the seniority roster.  You refused to allow non-general fund agencies to offer the incentive thereby creating vacancies for generally fund items to move into so you could achieve the savings. If the ERI failed it was because you failed to properly implement it. 

Finally, you claim you need an additional 898 employee reduction to achieve your $250 million savings that has already been achieved.  Will this be done in only agencies funded through the General Fund as was the implementation of the ERI?  If not, then why did you so limit the offering of the ERI?  If yes, given that the Department of Correctional Services, Division of State Police, Division of Parole and the Department of Taxation and Finance make up 74 percent of the generally funded agencies under Executive Control; will they make up 74 percent of the 898 employee reduction?  If not, will the other 26 percent have to absorb this reduction?  If so, which of these smaller agencies do you intend to shut down?

You see Governor, once you answer those questions we will all have a better idea about where we are going and whether or not you have actually thought this through or are just being vindictive and damn the consequences.  Certainly you are aware that the word “layoff” strikes fear in the hearts of many state workers.  I assume that is your intent and if it is you should be ashamed.  The 58,000 members I represent deserve better from their Governor.  They come in every day and give their all for the citizens of New York State.  There are 11,500 fewer state workers now than in 2008 so my members are working harder than ever.  To threaten them with layoffs to close a budget gap, that they did not cause and are not contributing to, is revolting.

I look forward to your response and assume you will respond through the usual channels so I will keep checking the papers and the blogs.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Brynien
President

Official Letter