Paterson rescinds raises given to 5 staff members

ALBANY - Responding to criticism from state employee unions, Gov. David A. Paterson Wednesday rescinded pay increases given recently to five members of his staff.

"We aren't going to let this be a distraction," said Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook. He added the staff members, four of whom work for him, would keep their new job titles but forgo wage hikes.

Staff members "agree with the governor that the public employee unions should agree to give back their raises or agree to the [one week's] lag pay," Hook said.

Union leaders, battling a furlough plan, seized on the elevation of Paterson aides as a double standard.

The raises, totaling $42,000, ranged from $5,000 to $10,000 per year and were tied to promotions.

Four of the five staffers work in the press office. Hook said they were doing work that had been performed by more highly paid people who have since left the administration.

He also said the press office's total compensation had dropped by $300,000 this year.

As his political problems have escalated, Paterson has lost staff at all levels.

Hook defended recent appointments as needed to keep government functioning. But he noted that total staff salaries are down 20 percent in the past two years.