New York public sector workers slated for $1B in raises this year despite $9.2B budget deficit

WGRZ (NBC) reports that, despite an immense budget shortfall, the state of New York will grant about half a billion dollars in raises to state employees next month.

Union workers are set to receive a 4 percent raise that totals more than half of the $478 million cost to taxpayers in the 2010-11 fiscal year, which starts April 1. The raise is part of the fourth and final year of contracts approved in 2007.

Fiscal emergency? What fiscal emergency?

Federal aid covers almost half of the salary increases, state officials said...

Let me guess: another shovel-ready Stimulus project. No wonder the economy remains completely screwed.

The raises for public employees and teachers, which some groups and legislators estimate will total $1 billion this year, have prompted some lawmakers to call for a wage freeze as the state grapples with a $9.2 billion budget deficit.

Oh, please -- let's not try anything drastic!

"I think New York state is in a state of emergency. This is the worst period of economic downturn since the Depression," said Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, D-Ossining, Westchester County. "So I think it would be something we should absolutely consider that there be a freeze on all salaries for all public employees."

A Democrat advocating against the public sector unions? Prediction: an abbreviated career for Sandra.

School groups said schools face about 14,000 layoffs if $1.4 billion in education cuts are adopted in the coming fiscal year.

Schools? What a bunch of self-righteous crybabies!

Some unions have rejected calls for a wage freeze, saying the sides lawfully negotiated the contracts in 2007... The 4 percent bump follows 3 percent increases the prior three years. About 150,000 employees are scheduled to receive a 4 percent raise, and 45,000 employees are slated to receive a performance advance, with some getting both.

Gee, sounds fair to me!

It's unclear, state officials said, whether a late state budget, which is due April 1 but not expected to be adopted on time, will impact the raises.

The budget's late?

What's the rush?


Related: A Brief, Illustrated History of the Public Sector Unions That Are Bleeding America Dry With the Full Support of the Democrat Party