ALBANY (AP) -- One of New York's largest unions says it has unearthed documents that show Gov. David Paterson's administration has added 36 top management positions while calling for 898 layoffs of unionized workers.
The Civil Service Employees Association released the data from a state Freedom of Information request made to the Paterson administration.
The union says 18 of the jobs paid $100,000 or more.
Paterson spokeswoman Jessica Bassett said the hires aren't new positions, but replacements.
The administration accuses the union of trying to distract the public from the need for layoffs after union leaders refused to suspend 4-percent raises or delay a week's pay to avoid layoffs.
Paterson is ordering the layoffs be effective Dec. 31, his last day in office.
Full statement from Governor David Paterson's office:
"These are not new hires. This list represents existing DEC staff moving into new positions to fill vacancies at the agency. CSEA leadership is once again trying to distract from the fact that they were unwilling to negotiate with this administration to achieve workforce savings required by this budget and avoid State worker layoffs. Governor Paterson proposed a number of methods for achieving workforce savings this year, and the unions rejected every single one of them while failing to provide realistic savings alternatives."
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