NYAPRS Note: While we await for the official release of NYS Senate and Assembly budget resolutions that indicate their response to the Governor’s proposal, we are very pleased to see this report that indicates that a 2% COLA for the workforce has the Assembly’s support (note the quote below from Assembly Mental Health Committee Chairwoman Aileen Gunther).
NYAPRS has included the COLA proposal in our budget advocacy agenda once again this year and will be joining a Wednesday news conference organized by Assemblyman Weisenberg that will focus on this COLA proposal.
Assembly Budget Includes Increase For Caretakers
Albany Times Union March 9, 2014
ALBANY — The New York Assembly’s budget resolution will include a 2 percent cost-of-living increase for caretakers of the disabled and others at state-funded nonprofits.
That puts the Democrat-controlled house at odds with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who proposed in his own budget keeping the human services workers’ pay flat for the sixth straight year to save an estimated $76 million.
Assembly mental health committee chairwoman Aileen Gunther in a prepared statement Sunday said an increase was overdue and “a matter of basic fairness and dignity” for workers serving the most fragile citizens.
The Assembly and the state Senate are expected to take up their separate budget proposals this week, staking out their positions as legislative leaders and Cuomo negotiate the final budget due April 1.
-Associated Press
http://m.timesunion.com/news/article/Assembly-budget-includes-increase-for-caretakers-5302184.php