Business

New York’s Cuomo Takes on Unions

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo started the process of laying off 3,500 union workers Tuesday night after the state‘s union rejected wage and benefit concessions negotiated to balance New York’s budget, reports Business Insider.

Union members voted, 54 percent to 46 percent, to reject the five-year deal that called for employees to forgo raises for the first three years and accept 2 percent increases in each of the final two years. The deal also called for union members to pay more for health insurance, reports the New York Daily News.

Since their rejection of the contract, Cuomo has asked the Public Employees Federation (PEF), which represents 56,000 members, to rethink their position, while a top New York administration official ripped into union leaders and said that unless they reschedule a new vote, layoffs would start immediately.

“We spent months working with PEF’s leadership and reached an agreement,” said Director of State Operations Howard Glaser. “We now find out that they do not truly represent their membership.”

Glaser attributed the defeat of the defeat to a failure of PEF leaders to “effectively communicate” the deal’s benefits its members.

Layoff notices went out to PEF workers late Tuesday evening and take effect in 21 days, another administration official has said.

PEF spokeswoman Darcy Wells said it is too early to say if union leaders would schedule a new vote, but noted the overwhelming message from the membership was that the contract was unacceptable, report the New York Daily News.

So apparently the union members did have the contract communicated to them “effectively.” They just do not want to pay more or take a decrease in benefits.

Union President Ken Brynien said PEF members “clearly feel they are being asked to sacrifice more than others, particularly in light of the pending expiration of the state‘s millionaire’s tax” and urged Cuomo to return to the bargaining table.

“There are just so many bad things about it financially,” said one PEF member. “It was a bad, bad contract.”

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) said he was disappointed by the vote but urged both sides to resolve the matter without layoffs. “These are tough economic times, and I hope that everyone involved can come together to make the shared sacrifices that are necessary,” Silver said.

Speaking of sacrifice, is is too much to ask that a public employee who already has more generous pay and benefits than private a sector employee (who pays those benefits and salary) pay at least some of the cost of their own health insurance?

Comments (75)

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  • kevinthewriter
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:32pm

    The unions are like the entitlement culture….they are spoiled, they are violent if they don’t get what they want, they have ruined our economy, and they let crooks speak on their behalf.

    Report Post »  
    • EP46
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 6:17am

      Unions have always been violent. That is the way they continue to exist. Read about current leader Trumka and the coal mine killing he was involved in. The union leaders have always been hired thugs. But, who is the ‘most frequent White House visitor’…it is union leader Richard Trumka. ! Trumka said this week that the unions will fight with everything they have to stop the Trade Agreements with Columbia, South Korea, and Panama that have been on obama’s desk since he took office…guess that is why they are still on his desk waiting for him to sign them.
      AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka sent a letter to President Obama on Monday expressing his labor federation’s opposition to the pending free-trade deal with Colombia. In a letter to obama, Trumka says that 22 union activists have been killed in Colombia this year, including 15 since a so-called “Action Plan” designed to crack down on union violence was instituted in the country. WOW…only the U.S. unions are allowed to ‘kill’ people !
      Organized labor and other opponents of three pending free-trade deals are ramping up grass-roots campaigns intended to pressure lawmakers to oppose the agreements. San Fran Nan pushed back Wednesday against all of the trade deals. There is no doubt who is in charge of ‘jobs’ with this administration.

      Report Post »  
  • LOJ
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:31pm

    Its about darn time that the politicians quit pandering to the unions. They get more benefits and pensions than the rest of us, and yet they want the taxpayers to help suplement their pensions when they want to retire early as in Wisconsin.

    Report Post »  
    • ACLUHater
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:56pm

      Here we go again. Show these thugs the door.

      Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 5:47pm

      If you asked a union member which “things were bad”, I doubt they could name a specific point in the contract. All they know is “I’m not getting as much as I want, and it seems to be less than what other people get”.

      These twits don’t understand that the “millionaire’s tax” is apples to their contract oranges. This is one deal, that’s another.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 10:39pm

      @jaycen
      That’s sort of my opinion. Who asks workers if they want to voluntarily freeze their pay for 3 years, and take a much smaller increase of the next 2 years? OMGosh, that’s cruel and inhuman. My husband’s BOSS (you know, an evil capitalist?) hasn’t taken a paycheck in about a year and a half in order to not fire any of his under 50 employees. He‘s burning his grandkids’ college funds.

      Report Post »  
    • G3L
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:42am

      I have an idea, get rid of the union and you can pay for your health insurance with your union dues. Case closed! Unions are just a big money making machine that only supports the union bosses no the workers, wake up members it time we take back our lives and run them the way we want.

      Report Post »  
    • DanWesson455
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 12:45pm

      I am a former NY employee. I was employed by NY when Dad was running and ruining things. Dad sold the NY State Thruway to itself to close liberal spending holes in his budget in the early 90′s. Dad sold Attica Prison to the NY State Development Corp. to close liberal spending holes in his budget. Dad illegally took one weeks pay from all state workers without negotiating such an illegal act. Then had to pay it back with interest when attempting to close the liberal spending holes in his budget. Never once was there an attempt to throttle back on spending. NY Medicare program is the Cadillac of Medicare Programs. NY Spends almost as much as Texas and California combined. You are 65? come to NY and get the best Medicare in the Country. You want welfare? Come to NY where the pay so you can have a cell phone, cable, free heat, health care and never worry about looking for a job. You should see (not see) the hidden charges in our utility bills that pay for this crap. In addition to other social programs. We suffer with the highest electric rates, gas prices, home heating bill, insurance in the country. Now because the State unions have decided to fight back he goes where all politicians go when they are losing. To layoffs. Never mind in NY we have what is known as the TAYLOR LAW which makes it illegal to have a work stoppage. These Public employee unions have no binding arbitration and are at the mercy of the State. State Toopers have binding arbitration. But not othe

      Report Post » DanWesson455  
    • DanWesson455
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:30pm

      But not the other unions. I retired last September. Before (and still) I retired I had not a raise since 2004. I have been in Unions before I was a state worker. Steelworkers, Atomic and Chemical workers, Carpenters….I have never had a good relationship with unions. They sucked up my money like a out of control government and I never used them for when I screwed up and was to be disciplined for it. I took my medicine and moved on. But the way Cuomo, present one, compared to Daddy. The nut does not drop far from the tree.

      Report Post » DanWesson455  
    • standupbcounted
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 6:16pm

      I am so sick of unions and Obama paying them off. Unions are the main reason our jobs are going to other countries. They are greedy and most of them corrupt.. Unions and Liberals will take this country down.

      Report Post »  
  • Servant Of YHVH
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:24pm

    ““These are tough economic times, and I hope that everyone involved can come together to make the shared sacrifices that are necessary,” Silver said.”
    Well perhaps this idiot can take some classes on how to read, understand and think. If he wants everone involved to come together and make the shared sacrifices that are necessary, then the unions would have to take a LOT bigger cut to their pay and what they pay for their own insurance and benefits as well as their retirement to make the same sacrifices that pulic workers make. What an IDIOT!!!

    Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
    • encinom
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 6:29pm

      When dis shared scarifice come to mean that the workers must shoulder all of the burden. State workers receive less than their private worker counter part, I understand you are brainwashed by FauxNews, but the facts are the facts. It is time for the rich to pay their fair share, they have been living off of the tax breaks and other state welfare while the middle class and working class have suffered the burdens.

       
    • NHwinter
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 8:25pm

      Encinom – show us a chart with the facts of what you said. I’ve seen charts that show unions have much higher wages and benefits and they retire much earlier. Prove what you said!

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 8:29pm

      The Union Advantage in Pay and Benefits | UAW
      The Union Advantage in Pay and Benefits; … Union workers earn more Wages and benefits for … for the average union worker in the private sector totaled $37 …
      http://www.uaw.org/node/167 – Cached

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • fist_of_fog
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 9:18pm

      @encinom
      The public employee in some cases does in fact pull in a better living than their private counterpart. For example, a Customer Service Rep at the NYS Dept of Labor can pull in over 50,000 a year, with 6 weeks of vacation and all the benefits. That same job description would be temp work or 25K a year in the private sector.

      Report Post » fist_of_fog  
    • Nasado
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 10:25pm

      @encinom
      Please tell me how the wealthy are not paying their fair share? The top 1% of income earners make 18.5% of the nations weath but pay over 38% of the income taxes. That is 20% more than what they make percentage wise. The top 5% percent of income earners pay 70% of the income taxes… more that the bottom 95% combined. So please once again tell me how they are not paying their fair share? Whate should their fair share be if they are not? How much of their income should they be *allowed* to keep?

      Report Post »  
    • 2ndrevolution
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:33am

      Just ignore Encinom. He’s a liberal troll and based upon the endless rants he post, a poster-child for the success of the liberal brain-washing camps, also known as the public education system, in “dumbing-down” generations of Americans. He never comments on anything he can support with facts. He is only capable of reciting the liberal talking points. Just ignore the liberal POS.

      Report Post »  
    • jayls
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:54am

      Union Workers got into the Union to be protected from the fallout of working in the private sector. They are so use to there paychecks and there raises and their health care. I‘VE PAID TAXES my entire adult life and I’m one of the working poor non union members, where when the company is having a hard time we had our pay cut or they couldn’t afford health care. My Taxes pay for Government workers I expect them to share the sacrifice like I’ve had to. Guess what nothing is guaranteed wake up out of fantasy land and make sure your fellow workers don’t suffer because you are to selfish to protect their jobs. because it might be you who gets laid off.

      Report Post »  
  • thinkingoutloud
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:11pm

    I wonder how that is going to work out? If it is like the so called property cap tax he passed which had loopholes and actually caused property taxes to rise higher than if he did nothing, we are in for a ride. Slick, he has to be watched and scrutinized just like Obama for an underlying agenda that isn’t apparent at first glance.

    Report Post »  
  • Git-R-Done
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:07pm

    Yet Cuomo won‘t get the same protests that Walker got and Walker didn’t even have to layoff anybody.

    Report Post »  
  • Mrtoohappy
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:59pm

    Get them all out. You won’t have any troble finding replacements. And they will work a lot harder then union workers.

    Report Post »  
  • Akbarjonnie Shaheed
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:58pm

    Extortion has it’s limits. Ask any mobster.

    Report Post »  
  • kangaroo
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:57pm

    New York is in bazaros world. Bloomberg has turned into a wookie, ha ha ha lmao, no really, food police he is not. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2785050/posts Bloody hell stay out of my pantry

    Report Post » kangaroo  
  • Akbarjonnie Shaheed
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:54pm

    Welcome to the world Obama created.

    Report Post »  
  • GodsDotr
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:47pm

    If the unions, through the Democrat Party, ask everyone else to compromise, then they must be the example. Please do not ask anyone to do something you are not willing to do yourself.

    Report Post »  
  • Dave In Arizona
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:44pm

    Is Cuomo a closet Republican?

    Report Post » Dave In Arizona  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:51pm

      By no means is he. This shows just how dire the situation is in New York.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • COASTIE90
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:27pm

    No way, a democratic confronting the unions. This can’t be true, it must be a malicious right wing lie to help Governor Cuomo’s enemies. He won’t get re-elected without the unions help. OMG NY state might go bankrupt. HAHA

    Report Post »  
    • staythecourse
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:36pm

      Sorry, I think it is a set up by the unions to coincide with the wall street occupation. Timing is just too much of a coincidence.. and there are no coincidences.

      Report Post »  
  • fortyshooter
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:26pm

    Cuomo is a big democrat. Even some of them sometimes can see reality. But 3500 jobs is not that much out of 56,000, if I read that right.

    Report Post »  
    • fist_of_fog
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 9:22pm

      That‘s one of 2 and a half unions in the People’s Republic of New York. The other one is CSEA and they have over 250,000 members. The “half” is MC or Management Confidential. So the layoffs are a drop in the bucket, as we could do without half of the workers to begin with.

      Report Post » fist_of_fog  
  • jakartaman
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:13pm

    Unionism = Communism
    Unions protect the weak and stupid!
    2012 TEA

    Report Post »  
  • BeerSnob
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:07pm

    A layoff isn’t much of a threat… now they can get a 2 year paid vacation erm.. I mean… unemployment benefits.

    Report Post » BeerSnob  
  • GrumpyCat
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:58pm

    I don’t believe ANYONE should be given employer-provided healthcare or retirement benefits.

    These items have a finite cost which should be paid directly to the employee, to be applied as the employee sees fit.

    If employees purchased their own health care insurance then there would be no question of pre-existing conditions or loss of insurance upon changing employers.

    Same applies to retirement/pension. When tied to an employer it ties the employee to the employer. Punishes those who seek and find better opportunities elsewhere. All the while providing the illusion of “free” healthcare and retirement.

    If the employee elects to buy cigarettes, beer, pizza, and big pickup trucks rather than health care and retirement, then so be it. Has no reason to expect others to pay for quadruple heart bypass or comfortable nursing homes. Was their choice. Give them a cardboard box in a former warehouse with a soup line.

    Report Post »  
  • turkey13
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:44pm

    I see the ACLU coming in to solve this problem. Are you forgetting obama signed an executive order stating that you can’t change union contracts or fire the union folks. These jobs are specialized and only union people can do them.

    Report Post »  
    • Navyveteran
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 5:49pm

      and? This contract is only between employee and state, federal laws can not usurp state laws. So that executive order is nothing. Just for example smoking, eating, and/or posessing marijuana is a federal crime, however, in some states they have legalized the medicinal usage of marijuana. If you are in one of those states you are protected from the DEA from breaking down your doors if you’re growing marijuana for medicinal purposes. I don’t care how many EO Obama or any other president signs against drugs, still legal in those states.

      Report Post »  
  • Nanaswords
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:43pm

    Gov. Cuomo and Staff…..Great Stand….No Fear..Keep it up…..majority of us Americans support you New York Gov. workers, WELCOME to the rest of the United States and B.H.O. ‘s Jobs Plan.

    Report Post »  
  • gingerbean
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:39pm

    It never ceases to amaze me that people work for a company and/or the government and expect and demand more and more money and/or benefits each year…and what is their reasoning for their belief that they are entitled to more, more, more????? Are they working harder? More than likely not…because as time goes on and someone gets vested or comfortable, the general tendency is to think that they are too important to do more and let the new ones work harder…”I’ve paid my dues!” Or perhaps it’s that the workers have acquired new skills. Again, not likely…unless they demanded that the company/government pay them for any schooling or classes that they may attend that furthers their skill sets. Maybe they have come up with new and improved ways to save the company/government money and feel that they deserve part of these savings back in their own check. Seriously? Now, here we are in 2011 and in the middle of the second recession …yes we are..millions of people are without jobs of any kind…millions more are here illegally and soaking up what few jobs there are available by getting paid under the table…and we have these greedy people here in NY who want to strike because they don’t like the offer of having to make do with less??? I hope that most of them end up at the local unemployment line…but wait…they will have the Union to take care of them..good luck guys!

    Report Post »  
  • HKS
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:29pm

    I thought Obummer said everyone has to sacrifice? Did he exempt someone?

    HKS  
  • AnAmerican111
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:27pm

    Unions once again showing how they have destroyed this Country ability to remain competitive in any type of production.

    The surprise is it is a Democratic Gov doing the work! Where are the Union’s busing in brainless workers to occupy the State Building?

    Report Post »  
  • alleyfarms
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:27pm

    Once these union sheep get laid off because their leaders have them bamboozled…maybe, just maybe, they will understand what it is like for the rest of the country and learn to negotiate. I worked for a union benefits office and I have never seen so many spoiled rotten people with an entitlement attitude in my life…..glad I’m out of there.

    Report Post »  
  • Grace1798
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:21pm

    I must say, “I am very impressed!”

    Report Post » Grace1798  
  • rockstone
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:20pm

    It’s on folks.

    It’s on.

    Report Post » rockstone  
  • lecar
    Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:12pm

    What a bunch of crap. I am an engineer and have not gotten a raise in 3 years. In fact, I took a 10% paycut so the company could stay in the black. Just this year have I gotten the cut back. These yahoos think they are immune to the economic downturn!
    Fire them all and host a jobs fair. I believe NY would get more than enough applicants with the correct skills set to cover every job. Tell the union goons to GFY.

    Report Post »  
    • Capitalist Mama
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 2:18pm

      This!

      Fire them and hold a job fair. Not only could the government then offer REAL, FAIR wages and benefit packages (similar to private sector jobs), but I bet people would be LINED up for them!

      Report Post »  
    • cgizzy
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:03pm

      Lecar, I agree. When I came into the company I work for there were only 4 employees: 2 contract workers who worked 3-4 days a week, an accountant who worked 1-1 1/2 days a week, and the CEO. I was the first employee hired who had a salaray (and I worked by the hour for several months before that). I knew comming into the company that the salerie would be much lower than what they company would like to pay me. I’m not expecting a raise this year, not with business being as bad as it is(though up dramatically since I got here, it’s just the overal economical and business climate at the moment).

      And Capitalist Mama, I also agree. They need to understand that their actions have consequenses and if they aren’t willing to take a cut when things are bad, then they need to be fired and new contracts with new workers need to be written up.

      Report Post »  
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