White Collar Union rejects NY State contract
The state's second-largest employee union, the Public Employees Federation, has rejected a new work contract with New York. Local representative Peter Banks tells us it's not the money, it's the politics that have union members concerned.
The proposal, similar to the one approved by the CSEA, was voted down 19629 to 16906. 70% of the union's 56,000 professional, scientific and technical employees voted, and it's the first time in the union's 34 year history that they've rejected a contract. It would have extended the contract time to 5 years, with no pay increase the first three years, 2% for the last two, with a 5 day 'deficity reduction leave' (furlough).
Banks says the concern is that some jobs, like nurses, can't be postponed, that having workers out will actually cost more. Union members are also upset that the governor's office did not negotiate directly, that consultants were called in, instead.
