Albany, N.Y.-- CSEA and other concerned individuals,
businesses and organizations are questioning the wisdom of plans to lay off 42 New York State Canal workers for reasons that are
more political than practical. In Cuomo's 1013-14 Executive Budget proposal, the layoffs are among the 234 people to be terminated by the
NYS Thruway Authority, which oversees the canal operations.
“This is just a bad idea — the canals are an invaluable
resource for New York State in so many ways,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “It is very important that we let the public
know how this ill conceived plan will hurt people, businesses and communities.”
The canal system is a symbol of New York’s forward thinking
on economic development and innovation. While commercial traffic has diminished since the canal’s heyday,
the canal system still drives economic development in waterway communities, especially through tourism
and recreation. The layoffs come at a critical time when major storms and flooding continue to
threaten communities along the Mohawk Valley. Locks in some parts of the state
require hands-on manipulation by skilled workers to control dam movement and
regulate water levels. The intricacy of this work should not be underestimated.
Among other activities, the coalition will start handing out
flyers at the Central New York Boat Show in Syracuse this weekend.
CSEA believes the layoffs are political retaliation because
ongoing labor negotiations have not concluded. The fact that management employees and political appointees have
been spared from layoffs is further evidence that unionized workers are being
targeted in a vindictive action that makes no economic or operational sense. “Governor Cuomo says his administration is about
jobs and the economy but putting dedicated workers out of work and undermining
the state Thruway and Canal operations is a lousy way to promote a jobs
agenda,” Donohue said.
“I think laying off lock operators will diminish the
efficiency of lock operations and it will definitely diminish the recreational
experience for both boaters and land side users. The lock operators are the
heart and soul of New York State’s Canal System and the Canal Corporation has
already drastically reduced its
workforce in previous years to about half of what they had at the start of the
millennium.”
— Thomas X. Grasso, President, Canal Society of New York State
“We conduct daily tours from Mother’s Day to the end of
October. We use the bridges and the locks several times per day. If we cannot,
it is going to put us out of business. Millions of dollars have been spent to
improve the waterway and build businesses along that corridor. It would be a
detriment to one of the greatest resources New York State has. The canal has
helped to create and build communities. Our tours are narrated. We educate people about the canal
and its history. We carry thousands of schoolchildren on the canal every
spring, giving them a first-hand experience.”
Additionally, “The canal employees are very important to us.
These people who work the locks and bridges are incredible. They do everything
possible to keep things running smoothly and safely. They will also add to the
experience for visitors by talking about the locks. We are talking about people
who are priceless to the canal system. Someone somewhere has his eyes closed
and needs to wake up. The state must not be clear on what this system does in
terms of bringing money to the communities along the canals. There is enormous
economic benefit. To chop these people and tell them to go home is crazy.”
— Captain Lee Poinan, Colonial Belle Tours, Fairport, NY
CANAL NEW YORK, Marketing and Business Alliance, Inc.
encourages the NY State Thruway Authority and the Canal Corporation to maintain
full and complete operation of the Canal System throughout the typical season
from May 1st to November 1st. This iconic canal system is a significant
economic generator as it serves residents of and visitors to the communities
along its banks.
The Canalway stretches for a total of 525 miles. It is part
of 234 municipalities, six of the 11 current Vacation Regions and six of the
Regional Economic Development Councils Estimates are that the system generates
over $380 million in spending each year.
— Richard C. Rivers, Chairman, CANAL NEW YORK, Marketing and
Business Alliance, Inc.
“Cutting back on services to tourists could not come at a
more inopportune time for Lockport. After years of delays, the NYS Canal Corp
and the City of Lockport are moving forward with an ambitious plan to restore
two original Erie Canal locks to operating condition. The economic impact study
associated with this development determined that this change will bring an
additional $10 million per year into Lockport businesses as well as hundreds of
thousands of dollars in additional sales tax revenue for Niagara County. Let’s
hope we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot by not being ready for business once
the tourists arrive.”
— Douglas Farley, Director Erie Canal Discovery Center,
Lockport, NY
“The efforts made to put the canal on the front-burner and
make it part of the economic recovery of upstate are significant. These layoffs
would be counterproductive. It will make day-to-day business more difficult for
us. It is going to affect the image of the canal, the ability to enjoy the
canal, not to mention all the businesses along the canal.
In the bigger picture of revitalizing upstate New York the
canal is critical. Marinas, tour boat operators, fishermen, restaurants, bed
and breakfasts, shops, and the communities all invest a lot in this canal to
have it open. As boat operators we pay leases and permit fees to the canal for
the luxury of using it. Anything that takes away from the value will get our
attention. We are invested in this canal.”
— Dan Wiles, Mid-Lakes Navigation Co., Skaneateles/Macedon,
NY
New York’s canal system and Canalway Trail represent a
world-class tourism destination that adds many millions of dollars in spending
to the state’s economy while also providing critical public health and quality
of life benefits to New York residents. Maintaining skilled, experienced staff
is essential to ensuring that these resources are safe and offer an enjoyable
experience for local citizens as well as tourists.”
— Robin Dropkin, Executive Director, Parks & Trails New
York, Albany, NY
“I would like to comment from my personal experience
navigating the entire NY Canal System several times with over 400 lock
throughs, and as a USCG Master Captain for Corn Hill Navigation’s tour boats,
that the lock tenders are the best goodwill ambassadors NY has, greeting and
serving boaters and tourists from around the world. The Canal System is a key
to economic development through tourism, recreation and community
redevelopment. It is a shame to see the dedicated staff being cut even more. Shouldn’t making New York “open for business” include
keeping its canals open for business as well?”
— Captain John Johnston, Corn Hill Navigation, Rochester, NY
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks with Eddie Rodriguez, president of DC 37, and a group of AFSCME members from New York during a lobby day on Capitol Hill. (Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah)