HTN: Collins Blasts Paterson's Labor Agreement

Governor Paterson announced over the weekend an agreement with the Civil Service Employee Association and the Public Employees Federation. The deal reduces the state's workforce by about seven-thousand through attrition, buyouts and eliminating vacant positions. The unions will also support the governor's proposed new tier of pension benefits. The program requires newly-hired employees to continue contributing three-percent of their salaries toward pension costs for their entire careers, rather than just up to ten years of service. When the agreement is fully adopted, it will save taxpayers an estimated 440-million dollars over the next two years.

Erie County Executive Chris Collins is blasting that agreement. Collins, who promised to bring a "leaner" government to the county, says Governor Paterson caved-in to unions by saving their jobs and offering early retirement buyouts. Collins also says things like downsizing town boards does little to save money and detracts from larger financial issues. He's currently touring the state talking to several groups about the problems he sees in state government. Colls has been trumpeted as a possible Republican candidate for Governor.