Working for the workers
Social Security, prison jobs, hospital tax discussed at labor forum
By ANNA JOLLY Staff Writer
PLATTSBURGH — The looming debate about the future of Social Security is one of many issues that concern local union leaders.
Social Security is a guaranteed social program that retired workers use with pride, Congressman John McHugh (R-Pierrepont Manor) said responding to a question at a open labor forum Saturday morning.
"You can argue as to when the Social Security trust fund will start to lose money," he said. "What you can’t argue about is that we’re headed to a catastrophe."
Discussing the privatization of the system is almost like courting a generational civil war, he said, adding that their is no simple solution to the funding problem.
He commended President George W. Bush for at least trying to put the issue on the table.
"We have to have an honest discussion and put aside partisanship," McHugh said.
The labor breakfast, sponsored by McHugh and Republican Assemblyman Chris Ortloff, was meant to address issues important to labor leaders before the start of the legislative session.
State Labor Commissioner Linda Angello and Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward (R-Willsboro) joined them for the discussion.
Following opening remarks, labor leaders had the chance to share their concerns, which included health care, education and worker safety.
Thomas Donahue, management chair with the AFL-CIO public employees federation, asked the legislators to protect civilian workers in prisons.
Union members also urged lawmakers to notify prison employees of a facility closure a year in advance.
Sayward responded that Mt. McGregor, a medium-security camp in her region, has been on the chopping block for years and she hopes the value of the rehabilitative programs there are recognized.
"We have to make sure that we keep these most dangerous criminals behind bars," she said.
Rob Scholz of CSEA, a civil-service employees union, advocated against the so-called "sick tax," a proposal by Gov. George Pataki that calls for hospitals to pay 0.7 percent of their gross income to help balance the state budget.
County nursing homes are an invaluable asset to any community and taxes like this threaten to drown them, he said.
"These are the people who need the care the most," he said. "Hospitals at some point are going to have to make tough decisions because of the state pressure."
Sayward and Ortloff said they do not support the hospital tax. The ideal solution would be for the state to take over Medicaid costs and relieve counties of the increasing financial burden, Ortloff said.
Kern Yerdon, representative for Local 97 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, addressed his concern of "outsourcing" construction jobs.
"Most of organized labor are very skilled," he said. "You get what you pay for."
Angello told the roomful or organized labor representatives that the Labor Department is working on a outsourcing study, which is due Aug. 1.
Tom Millea of the Plattsburgh Building Trades echoed Yerdon’s comments and said local public building projects should go to local contractors.
Patricia Bentley of United University Professions at Plattsburgh State asked that more public funding return to the SUNY system.
The more than three hour conversation ended with Ortloff, McHugh, Sayward and local representatives praising organized labor for the positive changes they’ve made over the years.
"Where labor is paid well, that’s where investment dollars go," Ortloff said. "You help the community grow and move forward."
E-mail Anna Jolly at: ajolly@pressrepublican.com
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