[NYAPRS Enews] TU: Cuomo Orders State Worker Layoffs to Begin July 15, Proposes New Pension Tier

[Harvey Rosenthal]

Cuomo Orders Pink Slips To Begin July 15

Governor Sets Date For Pink Slips As Agencies Will Reveal Specific Jobs Targeted Starting Monday

By James M. Odato   Albany Times Union  June 9, 2011

 

ALBANY -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration pushed forward Wednesday with its plan to lay off up to 9,800 state workers, setting July 15 as the date for the first wave of terminations, according to a memo obtained by the Times Union.

 

The memo states, starting Monday, specific jobs slated for layoff will be declared agency-by-agency by the state Budget Division so that individuals in those positions who have greater seniority have the option of transferring to jobs that are not planned for elimination.

 

The practice, known as "bumping," is laid out in Civil Service rules. Last month, several agencies received seniority rosters, which administrators will use to determine who will be eligible to bump another employee.

 

Cuomo's representatives have been at the negotiating table with two large public employee unions, the Civil Service Employees Association and the Public Employees Federation, since their contracts expired April 1. Cuomo is seeking $450 million in state workforce savings in the current fiscal year.

 

The memo is signed by Budget Director Robert Megna and Director of Operations Howard Glaser.

 

"Employees serving in titles targeted for elimination may be eligible for transfer," it says. "Not later than Monday, June 13, and subject to DOB clearance, agencies should provide to DOB a list of titles impacted by workforce reductions, and prepare to contact employees eligible for transfer." Because of bumping rights, about 30,000 employees will be affected by the plan despite the worst-case scenario of 9,800 actual layoffs. By July 15, the employees being cut will begin receiving pink slips.

 

Layoffs will take place in waves so that government service isn't thrown off dramatically, an administration official said. Public safety agencies would see the smallest number of reductions, if any.

 

The official noted the total number of layoffs could be reduced depending on savings achieved through labor concessions.

 

The memo was sent to commissioners on Wednesday afternoon -- just as Cuomo's office was publicly releasing his proposed legislation to establish a less-generous "Tier VI" pension package for public employees.

 

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Cuomo-orders-pink-slips-to-begin-July-15-1416271.php#ixzz1Os11e9uh 

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Gov. Cuomo Proposes Creating New Pension Tier

By Tom Auchterlonie <http://whiteplains.patch.com/users/tom-auchterlonie>  and Dina Sciortino <http://whiteplains.patch.com/users/dina-sciortino>   White Plains Patch  June 9, 2011

    

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday a proposal to create a new tier <http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/06082011PensionReformLegislation>  for the public pension systems for New York State and New York City, bringing a plan to an issue that has been one of the most talked about among school districts and municipalities.

"This bill institutes common-sense reforms to bring government benefits more in line with the private sector while still serving our employees and protecting our retirees," Cuomo said in a press release. "Reducing the skyrocketing pension burden faced by local governments and schools will also help get control of local property taxes that are driving New Yorkers from their homes and from the state."

Cuomo says the plan would save  taxpayers $93 billion over the next 30 years, excluding New York City which has a separate reform in the bill <http://governor.ny.gov/assets/documents/GPB_10_tiervi.pdf> . According to Cuomo's press release <http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/06082011PensionReformLegislation> ,  pension contributions by the state, local governments and schools increased from $368 million to $6.6 billion outside New York City since 2001. 

The creation of the new tier would impact new hires made who contribute to the various funds, including the Employee Retirement System (ERS) Teachers Retirement System (TRS) and the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS).

The new tier, dubbed "Tier VI," would do the following (the quoted text below is from Cuomo's announcement <http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/06082011PensionReformLegislation> ):

*	Raising the retirement age from 62 to 65
*	Ending early retirement
*	Requiring employees to contribute six percent of their salary for the duration of their career
*	Providing a 1.67 percent annual pension multiplier
*	Vesting after 12 years instead of 10 years
*	Excluding overtime from final average salary
*	Using a five year final average salary calculation with an 8 percent anti-spiking cap
*	Excluding wages above the Governor's salary of $179,000 from the final average salary calculation
*	Eliminating lump sum payouts for unused vacation leave from the final average salary calculation
*	Prohibiting the use of unused sick leave for additional service credit at retirement

 

http://whiteplains.patch.com/articles/gov-cuomo-proposes-creating-new-pension-tier

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