Here’s The Layoff List

I do not believe anyone in a moment of honest assessment would not agree that we could do with a “thinning of the herd” comprising the state workforce.  That said when ranchers thin the herd, they thin out the weak and feeble – not the robust and hearty.  If we could only “thin” the state workforce based upon merit, this would not only be a more fair process, it would be a meaningful process.  I cannot for the life of me understand why union members reject the concept of merit?  Honestly, it must only be a small percentage of the membership that is lazy and incompetent.  Why not throw the dead weight overboard?  Why not have your tenure and pay determined on the basis of performance and productivity?  Don’t you want to be rewarded for working hard?  I work in the private sector, and there are always young up-starts coming along who keep us older folks on our toes.  It’s what drives us – keeps us up at night and gets us up earlier in the morning.  It drives us to continue to achieve and not rest upon our laurels.  Don’t you want the same?  You’re right – it’s not “safe” and that’s the point – perform or exit the stage.  If you had a little faith in your own ability and capability, you’d much prefer to be judged upon your merit.  The problem is that the union mentality tells you that you are not unique, you do not have merit, and only as a member of the “herd” will you survive.  That’s a shame.

Obviously you have been a member of the private sector for too long. You do not have a clue as to how things work when you have a union. We have a union for our protection so when this young kids do come in the cannot dismiss us thinking that the herd is just getting too old for them. Yes it does have it’s downfalls when someone is not performing but that falls on supervisors to do their jobs and do proper evaluations and weed out the garbage. You can not be in favor at this time to give companies or government  all  that control over our futures. This is why unions were created in the first place and you want to be in favor of taking that away. Look back in history of our unions and see why they were formed, you take them away and we will be looking back instead of forward.

“We have a union for our protection so when this young kids do come in the cannot dismiss us thinking that the herd is just getting too old for them.”

Well now that sure explains the PEF vote. There can and often are clashes between the interest of new employees and longer term employees, but that isn’t why you have a union.

Unions were formed to redress unfair and unreasonable treatment from the employer by improving the balance of power.

You have a weak union when the members use it to fight with each other.

“We have a union for our protection so when this young kids do come in the cannot dismiss us thinking that the herd is just getting too old for them.”

Well now that sure explains the PEF vote. There can and often are clashes between the interest of new employees and longer term employees, but that isn’t why you have a union.

Unions were formed to redress unfair and unreasonable treatment from the employer by improving the balance of power.

You have a weak union when the members use it to fight with each other.

If this is truly how the Gov. of this great state wants to be known, adding to the unemployment woes of a state already in turmoil, than have at it. Instead maybe he should offer a little more to the people who are ready to retire, keep the agreements that are on the books now with no +/-. The younger people of this state would love to work. Maybe someday this government will start to look at it from the top to the bottom, not the other way!

CSEA members were able to see the big picture and accepted the concessions however unfair they seem to be, they worked together to protect each other and to do their part in this dark economy.  Perhaps the PEF workers feel they don’t have to share in assisting with the weakened economy, that’s there right BUT it’s not the PEF employees that will suffer the hardest when these layoffs are complete.  Imagine 643 fewer employees to help the mentally chalenged people in this State, that is not a site to behold and the Govenor should be aware of this damage. 

There are hundreds of State Employees that do not deserve the priviledge of working for the People of the State of New York, but they are protected by the Unions and because of senority they are left on the payroll and some of them sit in a corner because they are unable to function in their job title.  I know this for a fact because I worked for the State of New York for over 37 years before I retired.  I saw first hand the abuse of the system and I saw the corruption beginning at the top.  Jobs created for friends of polticians that had no business working for the people, one had two DWI’s while serving at the pleasure of the Governor and was protected by the system. 

Let there be no mistake the corruption and abuse starts at the top, the rank and file workers that will be dismissed are the hardest working employees.

Why should you be protected if a young kid comes along who works harder and is more productive than you?  If he or she is better at your job than you are, then you should go and he or she should stay.  It’s that simple.   Also, the conept of a union in a public employment setting is backward.  Governments are supposed to be responsible to the taxpayers.  That means governments are supposed to deliver services at the lowest possible cost.  Hence all the bid requirements in the State Finance Law.  The objective for the union representing state employees is to get as much money as possible for its members from the State.  That is contrary to what the State’s function and purpose is supposed to be.  The state should be controlling the cost of its workforce, not negotiating to pay more for work it could otherwise obtain cheaper.

[I do not believe anyone in a moment of honest assessment would not agree
that we could do with a "thinning of the herd" comprising the state
workforce. ]

I’ve long believed that we should thin the herd.  We should start by eliminating all of Cuomo’s deputy commissioners, associates and assistants to the deputy commissioners, all intergovernmental liasons, and all other patronage appointees in Albany, NYC, Chicago and god knows where else.

Cuomo has larded up the state payroll just like every other governor before him. If you can’t find 3,500 or so unnecessary and grossly overpaid Cuomo appointees to layoff, then you need your eyes checked. Lucky for you, however, you can still get your driver’s license renewed in NYS.

Can’t argue with that.