A Legal Declaration to Governor Patterson
By Michael Boyajian
As the former labor judge for the State of New York I can tell you this about Governor Patterson’s furlough plan, it is simply an illegal violation of the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between New York State and government workers. It is a fundamental question of basic contract law that any first year law student can tell you the answer to or predict the judicial outcome of. No Governor Patterson, contracts are not made to be broken. People of honor are legally bound by them and to violate this sacred trust with state workers in order to save nickels and dimes is downright nonsensical. Governor Patterson, rescind this furlough law because it will be the easiest decision any judge can make when ruling on its legal validity and striking it down.