Readers suffering through rounds of layoffs in the private sector are scoffing at the reaction to Gov. David Paterson’s announcement that he could be laying off 8,900 state workers that come under his control. Specifically, they are trouncing the head of the Civil Service Employees Association Danny Donohue, who said in Albany Bureau reporter Joseph Spector’s story yesterday: “We’ve been trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, but if Gov. Paterson really believes putting nearly 9,000 New Yorkers out of work is a good idea, he really is out of touch with life on Main Street.”

It’s Donohue who is out of touch with the average citizen, readers counter. And while they think that layoffs are a necessary first step into trying to get the state’s costs under control (pensions and benefits are other targets of their ire), this move doesn’t redeem the governor in their eyes.

Of course, the unions do have their defenders. Several people are saying this is exactly the kind of situation they were meant to protect workers from. Others are saying they deserve every penny they get and all their benefits since private sector employees have had it good for so many years and look down on state workers.

Here are some more comments:

The unions must not give in anymore. Paterson must find other ways to balance the budget or get the heck out of office.

When will the union leaders learn that their lavish benefits spread comes at a cost of jobs and financial stability for their members?

As much as I’m not a big supporter of Paterson, the unions are not willing to make any concessions, so in these times you do what you have to do. The unions are not what they were once were.

Gov. Paterson, look in your own backyard first! All those over-paid commissioners and directors of this department and that department, well they need to go first. It’s called consolidation of management!