Editor's Note: WNYLaborToday.com conducted a wide-ranging interview with CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) President Danny Donohue (pictured above/WNYLaborToday.com Photo) late today during the Union President's visit to CSEA Western Region 6's suburban Buffalo offices.  Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper will publish a story tomorrow (Thursday, May 13th), as well as post a Labor Video News Report.  

(ALBANY) - In a major victory for Working People, the U.S District Court for the Northern District of New York today granted a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that prevents Governor David Paterson from proceeding with his planned furloughs of 100,000 State Employees, representatives of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) said.

The restraining order also enjoins Governor Paterson from submitting further extender appropriation bills that include provisions requiring furloughs or exclude the payment of contracted-for salary raises, Union officials said.

CSEA President Danny Donohue reacted to the court issuing the TRO by saying: "CSEA is proud that the court agreed with our contention that this action would cause irreparable harm to our members and undermine state services.  Governor Paterson's plan was ill advised and demonstrates action that was not in the best interest of New Yorkers.  CSEA believes that the Governor's plan would have created even more chaos and crisis."

Union Representatives contend the governor's furloughs would reduce state employees' pay by $312 million - $39 million for each furlough day - which would take more than half-a-billion dollars out of the state's economy.  It would also greatly impact state employees who, like many New Yorkers, are living paycheck-to-paycheck trying to make ends meet, Union officials said.

Both PEF and CSEA have identified several alternative budget solutions that would more than meet the savings the governor is trying to achieve, but the governor had chosen to ignore those recommendations and instead moved forward on the one-day-a-week worker furlough.

Meanwhile, members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) and the CSEA announced today the Unions and its members will hold a rally in front of Governor Paterson's New York City offices at 633 3^rd Avenue tomorrow (Thursday, May 13^th) as a further public response to the governor's attack on Working People.  Early this week, Unionized State Workers rallied in 14 cities across New York to protect Paterson's action.

State employees will spend their lunch hour drawing attention to the effect the governor's furloughs would have on both state services and the state's economy.  Members will also share their personal stories of trying to plan for a 20% pay cut during these challenging financial times.