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Read and take action!!
From Statewide president Phil Smith
No doubt, you've seen news stories on the Governor's announced plan to lay-off 8,900 public employees starting July 1. But you need to read beyond the headlines! This plan, announced yesterday, is targeted at state workers under the governor's direct control. To quote the Albany Times Union, "Agencies that are beyond the governor's direct control - SUNY and CUNY, the courts, the Comptroller's and Attorney General's offices - are not in the layoff plan." You can read the entire story here: http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=783255
Nonetheless, it isn't time to relax just yet. The $75 million safety net designed to protect SUNY jobs that UUP and NYSUT worked out with the Governor must be implemented by the Legislature to become effective! Please take a moment NOW and visit: http://uupinfo.org/stop.html and send faxes to support UUP's Legislative Action Plan.
Yesterday, UUP was notified that the Comptroller's Office issued Pay Bulletins for the upcoming contractual increases for CSEA and PEF, slated for May. Separate bulletins have been issued for the SUNY M/Cs. This means that NYS is moving forward as it normally would on contractual and M/C pay increases. This is despite the plan outlined in the Governor's Executive Budget to eliminate the contractual pay increases for the statewide bargaining units. According to press releases from the Governor's Office, it was refusal by the unions to give back our 3% increases and accept a "lag pay" that precipitated his announcement detailed above. UUP anticipates that the Comptroller's Office will announce Pay Bulletins, at the appropriate time, reflecting the UUP contractual increases coming in July or September, depending on your appointment type.
But...let me reiterate: The Legislature has NOT yet agreed on an Executive Budget, and it is possible that they could take action on the Governor's Budget Proposal that would have negative effects on us. Therefore, it's imperative that we all give our legislators a push in the right direction. Visit our Web site and send faxes focused on supporting ALL parts of our Legislative Plan: http://uupinfo.org/stop.html It bears repeating -- "It ain't over till it's over!" Please fax ALL SIX letters on our Web site to your Legislator TODAY.
