GOV RENEGES ON PROMISE; CSEA WINS IN COURT

Albany, N.Y.--  The Civil Service Employees Association has won a temporary restraining order to prevent staff reductions at several facilities operated by the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and the Office of Mental Health.

In a lawsuit filed on February 24, CSEA claimed the state's action constituted a breach of the agreement it signed with Gov. David Paterson in June 2009 that guaranteed a moratorium on layoffs of members of CSEA -- as well as another large state workers union, the Public Employees Federation -- through 2010.

In exchange, our working families agreed not to fight Paterson's push for a less-generous Tier V pension plan, which was signed into law in early December.  These concessions are proof that CSEA is willing to help solve the long term fiscal challenges of the state budget crisis.

The union's movement on Tier V reflects the reality of current economic conditions and the fact that it will only apply to future hires. There will be no negative impact on the retirement rights and provisions of current employees.

From the start, CSEA has remained focused on not just protecting our members but also the essential services we provide to New Yorkers every day.  CSEA recognizes these are extraordinary times with unprecedented challenges and we have tried to find ways to help without reopening contracts. We believe the agreement worked out with the governor's office achieves all of these aims.  Now, Governor Paterson is reneging on his promise.

Acting Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. McNamara granted the restraining order, holding in abeyance job reductions at the Bernard Fineson Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Queens and other facilities.

CSEA said the state had been planning to lay off 18 workers and cut the hours of a half-dozen more. "It's a shame we have to go to court to get the governor to keep his word," said CSEA President Danny Donohue.