State Management/Confidential Employees Express Their Outrage at Legislative Rally

On December 8, 2009, The Organization of NYS Management Confidential Employees (OMCE) held a rally in Albany to demonstrate solidarity and outrage at Governor Paterson’s continued refusal to grant raises for management and confidential (M/C) employees.

More than 200 M/C employees gathered at noon at The Well of the Legislative Office Building to tell supportive Capital District lawmakers and their staffs that the governor’s arbitrary decision to withhold raises from M/C employees based on their union designation is unfair and discriminatory.

OMCE is prohibited from bargaining collectively pursuant to the New York State Taylor Law, enacted during the Rockefeller administration. Then, M/C employees were told they would be treated “no less well,” and would maintain similar benefits as those employees represented by bargaining units. Governor Paterson has cited the state’s fiscal woes in his decision to deny raises for M/C employees.

“We fully understand the economic circumstances facing the state,” said Barbara Zaron, OMCE president. “But we have recommended to Governor Paterson and the Division of Budget more than $1.5 billion in cost savings to New York State. How do they expect to operate a major state government if they are going to mistreat many of the same people they rely on to manage vital state functions? M/Cs should not bear all of the pain.”

M/C employees represent 5.5 percent of the state work force. The three-percent raises denied to them last April would amount to $16 million. However, OMCE has recommended a number of cost-saving measures, which would make the raises a “break-even proposal,” said OMCE Executive Director Joseph B. Sano. In addressing the delegation Tuesday, Sano urged them to fight for fair treatment by contacting their legislative representatives and the governor.

“We should not be treated like second class citizens,” Sano told attendees. “If all other state employees are entitled to raises, then there’s no reason why we should not have ours.”

The next day, the Albany Times Union published OMCE’s list of proposed savings which have generated lots of discussion, and interest within the Legislature. DO NOT DO IT FROM THE OFFICE, but you should contact your legislator!

OMCE is reaching out again to legislators and legislative leaders:

-          drafting legislative language on several concepts to resolve this issue;

-          reviewing the possibility of federal litigation;

-          exploring the potential for filing occupational pay differential (OPD) requests, as provided for in Civil Service Law §130.13; and

-          continuing the public discussion.

We need your continued involvement and communication with us.