As part of an emergency budget order, Government Patterson confirmed this afternoon that the 4% wage raise state workers expected to see in their paychecks this week will not be coming for some time. Under a three-year contract, a 4% wage raise to begin April 1, 2010 was stipulated but Gov. Patterson has called for a hold on the raise until after a budget is approved for the year. Possibly he will seek a more permanent wage freeze as well. While no budget as been approved, the state legislature must pass legislation every two weeks in order to pay employees. In response to the decision, the Civil Service Employees Association has threatened legal action against Patterson, saying they will sue if the Governor does not change his mind by the end of this afternoon.
See "Governor to withhold anticipated raise for state workers", Tom Precious, Buffalo News, April 7, 2010