CSEA, Other NY Unions Persuade Judge to Block Furloughs
May 20, 2010
FIGHTING FURLOUGHS – Thousands of public employees, including members of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000, demonstrate May 10 against proposed furloughs outside the state Capitol in Albany. (Photo credit: Ed Molitor)
A U.S. District Court judge, acting on lawsuits filed by Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000 and three other unions, has temporarily blocked a one-day-per-week furlough of more than 100,000 public employees.
In a May 12 ruling that CSEA calls “a major victory for working people,” U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence E. Kahn issued a temporary restraining order that will prevent furloughs until the court hears oral arguments on the unions’ lawsuits on May 26. Furloughs were scheduled to begin this week.
In his ruling, Judge Kahn declared the unions had demonstrated the proposed furloughs would cause “irreparable harm.”
“CSEA is proud that the court agreed with our contention that this action would cause irreparable harm to our members and undermine state services,” says CSEA President Danny Donohue, also an AFSCME International vice president. “Governor David Paterson’s plan would have created even more chaos and crisis.”
The legal action stems from the Legislature’s decision to pass an emergency budget bill authorizing Gov. David Paterson (D) to issue the harsh furlough order. The four unions that sought the injunction – CSEA, theNew York State Public Employees Federation, United University Professions and Professional Staff Congress of the City University of New York (CUNY) – claim that Paterson’s action, if carried out, would violate terms of their contracts, and therefore the state Constitution.
The day before the unions filed their lawsuits, thousands of CSEA members rallied statewide.
As lawmakers struggle to plug a $9.2 billion state budget gap, CSEA has offered proposals to avoid furloughs and other service cuts. Among the suggestions: Discontinue the use of temporary workers for years-on-end. CSEA says that, despite a state hiring freeze, more than $63 million is being spent annually to hire temporary workers rather than full-time employees in nearly every state agency.
Read how AFSCME members in New York have been making their voices heard to protect public services.
