Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - State employees may not be the only ones force into wage freezes. Wednesday, New York's mayors say they need to do it for their employees in order to offer some property tax relief.
Although local employees perform many of the services we take for granted, mayors say multi-year contracts offers them very little wiggle room in tough financial times.
"What we are not talking about, is scrapping and doing away with negotiated and approved labor agreements. We are talking about a temporary, one-year suspension of them," said Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi.
Teresi says the suspension would allow municipalities to catch their breath and implement their larger plan, which includes changes in benefits and pension contributions.
In order to impose a freeze on wages, lawmakers would have to declare schools, cities and other government entities to be in a state of financial emergency.
"We reject the idea that there needs to be any statewide freeze, the place to negotiate wage freezes and concessions is at the bargaining table," said CSEA Spokesperson Mark Kotzin.
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner not only stands behind the plan, she's already implemented part of it. City workers got no wage increases effective last July, when the City's budget started. "We are in a very dire situation and we need to think what the Syracuse government is going to look like," she said. "I have been very clear about that and also very clear that we're not in a position to have wage increases."
The mayors say the freeze would also help them deal financially with a property tax cap being recommended by Governor-Elect Andrew Cuomo.
