Cuomo Hands Out 0% Salary Increase, Furlough Days To SUNY Union

Why would any union agree to this contract?

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has reached a contract deal with the one of last major public unions.

The 35,000 State University of New York employees represented by United University Professions have worked without a contract since 2011. The tentative agreement calls for a zero percent wage increase from 2011 to 2013. It also calls for nine furlough days, which are referred to as a “Deficit Reduction Program.”

“This contract agreement continues the state’s commitment to fiscal discipline while recognizing the vital role our university employees play in a strong SUNY system,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement. “I am pleased that through collaboration and working together the state has been able to reach a fair agreement with United University Professions.”

United University Professions President Phillip H. Smith said, “This contract meets the unique needs of our members and meets the state’s need to achieve savings in these difficult economic times. It’s a fair contract for our union and the state.”

Sure Cuomo threatened layoffs, but a 0% salary increase and 9 furlough days is a brutal contract agreement.

If I were a member of that union, I would vote against that contract and work against that union president.

I don't give care how bad the economic times are supposed to be - that's a garbage contract agreement.

Especially when the money just went to lower the taxes of the hedge fund managers and Wall Street criminals.

I can't wait to see how Cuomo independently arbitrates the evaluation dispute between the UFT and Bloomberg.

If the outcome is anything like the contracts he's forced onto the state unions, it's going to suck wind bigger than the blasts that come out of Cuomo's mouth and Twitter account.