GOV'S ACTION OUTRAGEOUS

Governor David Paterson

(photo by Ove Overmyer)

ALBANY, NY -- CSEA is blowing the whistle on the Paterson administration's exploitation of temporary workers and undermining of state workers. CSEA has uncovered over $62 million tax dollars being used to systematically hire temporary workers through temporary personnel agencies in place of state workers in almost every state agency.

These workers, who receive no benefits and have no rights, have been used for years to hide the fact that the state work force has been depleted to such an extent that the agencies are no longer able to deliver promised services to the citizens of this state. What's more, the Paterson administration is paying a premium for these workers with the bulk of the money going to the temp agencies. Taxpayers should question this clear lack of leadership and this misuse of the public trust.

CSEA brought this matter to the attention of the administration months ago and there has been no response. The governor has proclaimed the need to create jobs in the state and to spur economic development and yet is not willing to address this misuse of workers or the overburdened state agencies who have been unable to fill positions. It is a underhanded way to avoid the civil service law and to deceive the taxpayers as well.

The "winter of reckoning" should start with the governor looking at his own administration's failure. "I don't even think the governor knows the workload of his own work force," CSEA President Danny Donohue said. "This is apparently another example where Governor Paterson wants to be judged by what he says, not by what he does."

More than 12 state agencies and facilities have spent millions on temporary workers hired through temporary service agencies since April 2008. The worst offender is the state Department of Health, which has spent more than $13 million taxpayer dollars on temporary services followed by the State University system at $9 million, the Office of General Services at $5.6 million, state Education Department at $4.7 million, Law Department at nearly $3.4 million and the Department of Transportation at more than $3 million.

CSEA is preparing legal action immediately to stop the exploitation of these workers and to uphold the integrity of the civil service law. CSEA is committed to organizing these workers and upholding the standards that every worker of the state should have.

The following story was a news release issued 1/14/10 by the Civil Service Employees Association.  To read the original text, click here.