The Public Employees Federation of New York (an SEIU affiliate) and the Civil Service Employees Association reached an agreement with the state's governor this week. Gov. David Paterson will shelve his earlier plan to lay off nearly 9,000 workers and drop a proposal that would require existing workers to give up their 3 percent annual pay raise this year.

The agreement will save the state billions of dollars, the cost savings of which will come through early retirement buyouts, changes to pension benefits, and employee-initiated reduced work weeks. Administration officials say the amount of savings this year under this new agreement are about $60 million more than would have been saved under the layoff plan. "The governor moved significantly from his original demands for major contract concessions from the state's work force," said PEF President Ken Brynien. [...] "We will continue to push the governor and legislature to reduce the reliance on costly consultants as a way for the state to address future financial crises."

BNA Daily Labor Report
December 3, 2008

In a statement, the Service Employees International Union pointed to CEPR's study as "evidence of why it's so important for working women, and others, to have the freedom to join unions."

As the nation's current economic crisis continues and wages stagnate, the American public is hungry for measures to strengthen the middle class. The Employee Free Choice Act will be among the priorities for President Obama and the new, pro-middle class 111th Congress, but they need to see the broad public support for this much-needed change.

Barack Obama was a co-sponsor of last year's version of the bill and has vowed to sign it when it is finally passed by the incoming Congress. Both labor and business have said the Employee Free Choice Act is a top priority as they approach the new Congress and White House. Labor unions (such as SEIU, AFL-CIO and Change to Win, to name just a few) want to pass the bill and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business interests want it stopped.

A new nationwide television ad campaign serves as a reminder that we need the Employee Free Choice Act to level the playing field for America's workers by giving them a fair and direct path to form unions. The spot, launched by labor advocacy group American Rights at Work, will air for three weeks on national cable -- CNN, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News. Watch it now.

By restoring the freedom to form unions, the Employee Free Choice Act will help America's workers get better health care, pension benefits and job security, and benefits. In fact, with the passing of the Employee Free Choice Act to allow people to freely join unions, more than 3.5 million people could receive health insurance and 2.7 million people could receive pension benefits, according to academic studies.

You can take action to help pass the Employee Free Choice Act - check out this video and then show your support for the Employee Free Choice Act to create a new American Dream by signing our petition.