Region 3 Pres. Billy Riccaldo: Don't Scapegoat County Workers

Submitted by CSEA860 on August 5, 2010 - 9:16pm.

Don't scapegoat county workers

August 5, 2010

Re: "Astorino: Budget forecast bleak, so unions should agree to give backs," July 22 article:

Westchester County Executive Astorino knows full well that he has a binding agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association. We understand that the county is facing a bleak financial period and we are fully committed to exploring options to resolve the county's challenges. However, we will not allow him to blame our workers, renege on our agreement, or try to balance his budget on the backs of some of the hardest workers in this county. Indeed, we have offered a myriad of ideas to reduce the county's projected deficit. For instance, why not get our prescription drugs from Canada?
That would save the county millions. Nevertheless, Astorino keeps threatening us with layoffs that will ultimately end up costing the county millions of dollars.
A laid off worker doesn't pay taxes; will not be able to buy from local small businesses; and will inevitably need some kind of social services. Layoffs are counter-productive, impractical and bad for Westchester residents all around.
These constant attacks and attempts to scapegoat our workers begs us to ask the question: Who is running this county, Astorino or the Westchester Business Association?

Billy Riccaldo

Beacon

The writer is President, CSEA Southern Region 3

AFSCME video: STOP THE LIES

pdf version of Billy's letter below

Sept 13 NY Daily News Opinion Article:
End the Assualt on public sector salaries and benefits

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