Unions Protest Governor's Proposed Layoffs

New York, NY —

State workers protested outside a Midtown fundraiser for Governor Paterson, saying his decision to lay off 9,000 workers is unfair, and unreasonable. Vernetta Chesimard, with the Public Employee Federation, says the governor should lay off his own staff, first:

CHESIMARD: He just wants to take it from the rank and file because he wants to show that he can break the unions and we will not allow that to happen.

The unions say they've suggested a voluntary reduction in their schedules which would save $7 million. Paterson says the layoffs would save $480 million, over two years, and that the layoffs are necessary because unions haven't agreed to concessions.