News
Furloughs halted for now
A federal judge in Albany yesterday issued a restraining order temporarily blocking furloughs for state workers, including UB and other SUNY employees.
The furloughs were set to begin next week.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn’s ruling was in response to lawsuits by four public employee unions—CSEA, PEF and UUP, all of which represent UB employees, as well as the Professional Staff Conference-CUNY—accusing Gov. David Paterson of breaking collective-bargaining agreements that are in effect until 2011. The unions claim the furloughs are a violation of union members’ rights under the U.S. Constitution.
The judge set a hearing on the issue for May 26.
In addition to blocking the furloughs, Kahn also ordered that the 4 percent pay raise that was due employees on April 1 but delayed by Paterson should take effect immediately.
The Legislature on Monday had approved an emergency appropriations bill to keep state government running in the absence of a budget that included language authorizing state employee furloughs. Employees would not come to work one day the week of May 17 and would not be paid for that day. The governor had indicated he would include furloughs in all future emergency appropriation bills until a final budget was enacted by the Legislature.
In an email to UB faculty and staff late yesterday afternoon, Scott D. Nostaja, vice president for human resources, told employees about the restraining order and that plans for the furlough are no longer in effect.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and will keep the campus community informed of any developments impacting our employees,” Nostaja said.
Reader Comments