Here’s a look at today’s opinion content:
PEF and CSEA contracts: Editorial
We assess the agreements brokered by the Civil Service Employees Association and the Public Employees Federation, the state’s largest public-employee unions, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo for new contracts. Both involve wage freezes, furloughs and contributions to health care. We write:
… It remains to be seen if the rank-and-file members of the Public Employees Federation and Civil Service Employees Association feel the same way. Workers must weigh several factors as they decide whether to ratify the five-year contract deal proffered by Gov. Cuomo, not the least of which is the governor’s threat of 9,800 layoffs (hundreds have already received notices).PEF agreed Saturday to a contract deal similar to the one accepted CSEA last month, which includes a three-year wage freeze, furloughs and a provision that asks employees to pay a larger portion of health coverage. In exchange, the unions get a two-year guarantee against layoffs. The guarantee doesn’t include any job losses through facility closures or other state restructuring.
Union leaders have skipped the usual banter on reaching a “fair deal” and “robust negotiation.” Instead, CSEA President Danny Donohue and PEF President Kenneth Brynien have talked of “shared sacrifice” and “job security.” …
Earlier: State deal with CSEA welcome, Editorial, June 23
More opinion
Here’s a glance at what our colleagues are saying today:
New York unions should ratify pacts: Editorial, Newsday
There’s a lesson in union response: Editorial, Times Herald-Record
Tentative labor pacts are good for New York: Editorial, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Don’t go wobbly, Mike: Editorial, New York Post
Raises, at last, for N.Y. judges: Editorial, Albany Times Union
State panel has to accept fiscal times in setting judicial salaries: Editorial, Watertown Daily Times
Can chatter on Cuomo’s next job: Editorial, Poughkeepsie Journal