CSEA FILES GRIEVANCE ON BEHALF OF STATE WORKERS

ALBANY, N.Y. -- CSEA - New York's leading union - has taken the first formal steps in challenging Gov. David Paterson's decision to delay contractual pay raises for nearly 70,000 CSEA-represented state Executive branch employees.

CSEA has filed a formal contract grievance with the Governor's Office of Employee Relations under the provisions of the CSEA-NYS collective bargaining agreement. The action is the appropriate starting place to challenge the governor's delaying action and does not preclude additional legal response.

As the governor's action affects all members of the bargaining units on a statewide basis, CSEA filed the grievance at Step 3 of the grievance process. GOER has 15 working days to respond to the CSEA grievance. Should GOER not respond favorably to CSEA, the union would have the option of moving the grievance to triage and then arbitration.

CSEA has every expectation of prevailing against the governor's arbitrary and unilateral action.