Unions not surprisingly don’t like salary freezes, which are increasingly popular with elected officials as the New York state, its municipalities and school districts struggle with red ink.

Freezing wages, union officials argue, violates collect bargaining agreements, reports Journal News (here). However, a pay freeze advocate, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, says a wage freeze would save his financially strapped county $20.5 million and minimize layoffs.

Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, D-Ossining, one of four Assembly members to previously urge unionized teachers to voluntarily freeze wages (here), was asked whether the Legislature should enact a freeze on all state, municipal and school district employees (here).

“I really think it is something we have to look at for everybody,” said state Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, D-Ossining. “My mission isn’t to make employees unhappy. It’s to make sure people keep their jobs.”

Last week, Governor David Paterson, citing cash shortages, said he would withhold scheduled 4 percent raises for 137,500 state employees until the Legislature enacts a state budget (here).

Editorial boards, including the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, note the legality of Paterson’s action may be decided in court (here).

Meantime, Paterson’s actions lately are in line with the message he has been sending for months: New York state is broke.

This is why actions such as holding up the pay of state workers are a good thing. Not only do they make extra millions of dollars available during these tough economic times, but they can help focus much needed public attention on the dire situation.

The Jamestown Post-Journal called Paterson’s suspension of pay raises “a smart move financially” (here).

The Auburn Citizen says unions unhappy with the pay delay are misdirecting their anger at Paterson instead of the Legislature which has failed to pass a budget (here).

Newsday says the state’s $9.2 billion deficit should get the unions back to the bargaining table (here).

Everyone should be sharing in some sacrifice to get through this economic slump. But New York’s unions don’t want to give up anything. Twenty states have enacted or are considering layoffs or wage-and-hour reductions. In context, a wage freeze or a bigger contribution to health coverage seems more than fair.

New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin doubts unions will answer the call for sacrifice. “The way organized labor sees it, sacrifice is for suckers. Let somebody else pay,” he writes (here).

Originally Published: NY Public Payroll Watch