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ALBANY -- The Cuomo administration and the state’s largest public employees’ union begin contract talks Wednesday. Susan Arbetter reports on the politics surrounding the negotiation, as well as the larger continuing conversation about collective bargaining.
There was more to this scene at the State Capitol on Wednesday than meets the eye. Unions of all stripes rallying together in a show of collective strength. But "show" may be the operative word. Governor Cuomo currently enjoys such public support, that he is able to threaten the unions with up to 10K layoffs.
Thousands of state employees live in Breslin's district so it's not surprising he is a union advocate. But in a sign that Albany's political dynamic is shifting away from unions, Breslin is urging them to make at least one concession. "If there was some kind of agreement between the governor and unions that would delay or freeze wages for a time, I could agree to that.”
States across the country are looking for ways to strike the right balance between collective bargaining and looming financial disaster.
Faso, who ran for governor against Eliot Spitzer in 2006, is NOT advocating the end to collective bargaining – only its reform.
Here, in Albany, within the context of this national debate, legislative leaders are attempting to seal a budget deal. But they were caught off-guard by a videotaped message from the Governor again underscoring the possibility of layoffs and even a government shutdown…;
Governor Cuomo says, "If the Legislature fails to pass a budget on time, the government will not have the funds to operate and it may be forced to shut down."
The Governor is hoping to see $450 million in state workforce savings.
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