ALBANY – Senator George Borrello joined other members of the
Senate Republican Conference in urging Governor Cuomo to exempt state workers
who have been deemed “essential” and unable to work from home, from the freeze
of their scheduled two-percent salary increase.
The governor recently froze a scheduled two-percent salary
increase for a large segment of the state workforce including many workers on
the front lines that the state has designated “essential,” including state
corrections officers and other law enforcement officers, nurses and other staff
at public hospitals, and direct caregivers in nursing homes and mental health
care facilities, among others.
“Thousands of New York State’s essential public employees
have shown dedication and fortitude throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by
reporting for duty for jobs where working from the safety of home isn’t an
option. These heroic public servants are helping us navigate a crisis that has
no precedent and that will surely go down as one of the most difficult chapters
in our history,” said Senator Borrello. “In recognition of the unique
difficulties of their jobs and the exceptional health and safety risks they’ve
endured and continue to endure, I believe they not only deserve our
appreciation, they deserve this state support.”
In addition to Senator Borrello, the following Republican
Senators signed the letter: George Amedore, Phil Boyle, Rich Funke, Patrick
Gallivan, Joseph Griffo, Pamela Helming, Chris Jacobs, Daphne Jordan, Andrew
Lanza, Betty Little, Tom O’Mara, Robert Ortt, Patty Ritchie, Sue Serino, James
Seward, and James Tedisco.
